| Author | Message | ||
     frigidpony |
I was involved with Ananda Marga as a devotee briefly (1 yr or so) in the early 90's.. I was wondering if anyone else had any stories or experiences that they would like to share. | ||
| Anonymous |
I would like to hear from you first! | ||
| matsiasan |
<Spam Deleted by Administrator> | ||
| Anonymous |
I have a young friend who has recently completed university. She appears to be becoming involved with this organisation. What are your thoughts on them, should I be overly concerned ? Is there anything positive I can do to ensure that she does not become too involved ? | ||
| desertdance |
would you be worried if she was getting involved with the RC church? I would be more worried about that. | ||
| Anonymous |
Re item from 'desertdance' you appear to have a problem with catholicism but although I do not belong to any organisation led by a dictator I'm not interested in the RC church.... Do you have anything constructive or sensible to say about Ananda Marga and whether young people are in danger of being brainwshed in that organisation.. --- a concerned guardian...... | ||
| jitendra jyoti |
I know about ananda marga. This is a socio spiritual organisation. Working every spheres of life. | ||
| dada jyoti |
Ananda marga is a new concept to save the society from all problems. Any body want to know about this mission please visit,web site:www.anandamarga.net | ||
| jyotisvarupananda |
Ananda Marga helps people in their efforts for self-realization by providing instruction in meditation and other yoga practices free of charge. Ananda Marga works for the well-being of society by providing a wide array of social services in all parts of the world. | ||
| lalan kumar |
Ananda Marga is a social and spiritual organization founded in India in 1955 by spiritual master and philosopher Prabhat Rainjain Sarkar, known by his spiritual name of Shrii Shrii Anandamurtijii. The mission of Ananda Marga is to help individuals achieve complete self-realization and to build a social structure in which the physical, mental and spiritual needs of all people can be fulfilled. The teachings of Ananda Marga deal with a wide variety of topics such as mysticism, cosmology, sociology, history, yoga, health, psychology, philology, economics, farming, music and literature. As a social service mission, Ananda Marga originated in India, but has since expanded into a global organization with thousands of dedicated volunteers working in virtually every country of the world. The activities of Ananda Marga encompass a wide range of projects for the welfare of humanity as well as all other living beings, the environment, and the planet as a whole. Ananda Marga runs yoga and meditation centers, schools, orphanages, food distribution centers, disaster relief programs, medical centers, community development projects, and other service projects. Emphasis is placed on solving the problems of the local people, whatever they may be, and assisting them in managing all their personal and social resources for the prosperity of all. The philosophy of Ananda Marga is one of universalism. It is a synthetic outlook, recognizing God as the one limitless supreme consciousness. This universe, having been created by Him, is existing in Him, and as such all created beings are His children, part of the one universal Cosmic family. Thus we are all brothers and sisters, connected in love by the bonds of Cosmic fraternity. This universe of diversity has evolved out of unity (God), and we must continually strive to see that unity in all diversity. Thus the social outlook of Ananda Marga recognizes that the welfare of the individual is inextricably linked with the welfare of the collective, each relying on the other for its existence and dynamism. Everyone has the right to equal opportunity and as such there should be no discrimination on the basis of superficial barriers such as race, nationality and religion. Ananda Marga advocates a world of justice, security and peace for all. To this end Ananda Marga gives a practical, rational, and systematic way of life for the balanced development of all human potentialities: physical, psychic and spiritual. It is a system that incorporates practices that are beneficial for personal and social upliftment. These range from proper hygiene and diet , to yoga postures, to a scientific technique of meditation based on morality and leading to complete peace and inner fulfillment. It recognizes that a balance is needed between the spiritual and mundane aspects of existence, and that neither one should be neglected at the expense of the other. Hence, the goal of Ananda Marga is "Self-realization and the welfare of humanity | ||
| raj |
Ananda marga is the boon for this era. | ||
| kumar |
It is man making mission. | ||
| dada |
Ananda marga is the only way of life to get libreted from all sorts of suffering. | ||
| Anonymous |
I was a member of Ananda Marga for 10 years, many of which in a senior capacity. I have visited Indian HQ of the organization many times and was close to many senior monks there (these monks control the organization). There are many positive aspects of the group's practices and beliefs. I do not want to diminish those but will focus here on the negative aspects because those were not well-highlighted anywhere on the web and they should be. Please note that I was an insider and know what I am talking about firsthand. I am not spreading false rumors, which would be morally abhorrent to me. If one reviews the well-researched characteristics of destructive cults (browse cults 101 section of http://www.csj.org/), Ananda Marga will fit overwhelming majority of them. Notably, the group's literature is of the obvious cultish nature as compared to the traditional/authentic yoga and tantra literature. From my own participation, I know that the group's beliefs are clearly totalitarian. Their dogmas (very concisely) are as follows: the group is the only true spiritual tradition; it is the best or only way to self-realization; its (now deceased) guru is the only true teacher and Messiah; it preaches one just world government (ruled by the monks and controlled by the group's ideology). I have preached these dogmas myself when recruiting new members. Most government authorities (Interpol, CIA, FBI, Indian police, etc.) consider Ananda Marga a terrorist Hindu-fundamentalist cult with about 50 murders linked to it. Many of the senior monks who I knew openly admitted to killings of the defectors and local government officials who oppose the group (mostly in India). Smuggling, document forging, passport forging, immigrant and tourist visa forging are common. I have observed them all firsthand. I have seen monks make visa stamps in a closet lab at a European Ananda Marga center. These stamps were used on their (Indian) passports to successfully enter several European countries. Gold, and pharmaceutical smuggling were frequently discussed but I have not seen it with my own eyes. I have participated in light smuggling myself -- video cameras, computers, pistachios and almonds to India. Such light smuggling was very common in my days in the organization. In addition, I have observed rampant discrimination of Caucasians in the monastic structure of the organization. Indian races are deemed supreme by the ruling elite. While preaching internationalism, the organization is completely controlled by Indians. | ||
| Andrew Mac |
Interesting, the "sides" that have come up, here. The "pro" messages seem to be obviously from WTs or LFTs -- come on, gentlemen! The disaffected one from a former WT -- did you "fall from grace" Da'da'jii? I had involvement with the organization from 1973 -- the first time I went to an Ananda Marga function, it was the same date as the self-immolation of one of three monks that year, in protest of Sarkar's imprisonment. That set the tone for my involvement. I was an LFT (local full time) volunteer worker for various branches of the organization (RU, AMURT, VSS)in the late '70's and early '80's. I saw many good works completed. I also witnessed unbelievable classic mind control tricks on the part of a number of those of the sannyasi order, and others -- those sorts of things which typically have the deprogrammers slobbering with joy over prospects of $$$$ for giving some doting parent their son or daughter "back." As bad as some of that was, I witnessed much worse in brief contacts with members of the Unification Church, ISKCON (the Hare Krsnas) and a couple of others too obscure to remember, let alone mention -- just to kind of keep things in persepctive. Many of the organization's members in North America in those days were in flight from restrictive family situations, broken homes, and disaffection with the Catholic church or Jewish American "traditions." There were lots of reasons, actually. Altruism is a great medicine, and perhaps a panacea. However, I think there was a backlash in the psyches of many full-time workers in terms of all of the conduct rules they were expected to observe. How many "points" must you be required to follow before you find yourself lying on a bed of nails, figuratively speaking? So creating "clash" within the minds and hearts of members of the organizations was (and probably still is) considered high service, as it supposedly "powders down the mindstuff" and makes the "clashing" one more subtle by intent. Maybe, but some of them it just makes crazy, or borderline sociopathic, or ridiculous, or rebellious. All to what purpose? Sadvipra Raj? Run your own life well, and then I'll let you know whether or not I think you can run the lives of anyone else. . . There was dishonesty about money, particularly with some of the sannyasi order. One example I personally experienced was using a credit card as deposit for a rental car in a foreign country, with the fervent commitment from the worker that my card would never be charged. Wrong . . . Then, when the money was refunded at the time that the car was returned to the rental company, another full time worker who was supposed to ensure that I get it back kept the money, and blamed the oversight on another worker. All the while viewing that little windfall as part of "Ba'ba's Grace," I'm certain. I may have forgiven, but never have I forgotten, eh Didi?!?! Just one example. I smuggled several thousands of dollars from New York to Calcutta one of the several times I journeyed to India, all in the name of "Ba'ba's security." I truly hope that's what it was used for. Disaffected and perhaps marginalized by things I saw, dishonesty over money, and fallacious reporting, I quit doing Ananda Marga meditation some time before Sarkar passed, and really had nothing further to do with the organization, although I maintained contacts with friends I made (and still do, on a limited basis). Oh, and to the Ac'aryas and others reading this, I pretty much figured out that everyone's I's't'a'mantra is the same, so how can anyone be "crudified" by sharing that with anyone else? Is spreading that fallacy part of what you would call "satya" (truth)? Wake up and smell the roses. We are ALL sovereign beings, capable of achieving our own liberation sans the intercession of gurus of any stripe. It's interesting and perhaps even fun to have them around, but they are totally unnecessary in that regard. However, I personally wouldn't seek to deny you the opportunity to follow one to the ends of this Universe, if such be your choice. Just allow the rest of us to find our way without you, if such be our inclination . . . Espavo!!! | ||
| Anonymous |
http://amurt.org/ PLEASE VISIT THIS PAGE AND SEE WHAT THE ANANDA MARGA UNIVERSAL RELIEF TEAM DOES IN THE WORLD AND MAY BE YOU ARE KIND ENOUGH TO PUBLISH IT TOO. IN ALL GROUPS AND RELIGIONS AND ALSO AMONG JOURNALISTS THERE ARE GOOD BETTER OR REGULAR PEOPLE. WILL YOU BLAME THE WHOLE IDEOLOGY FOR A THOSE WHO MAY HAVE GONE ASTRAY? AND DO YOU HAVE PROOFS OF WHAT YOU ARE SAYING? THE INTELLIGRENT PEOPLE THOSE WHO KNOW HOW TO SEARCH AND HOW TO FIND, WONT LISTEN TO YOUR MESSAGES. I HAVE BEEN IN ANANDA MARGA FOR 30 YEARS, AND IF I WERE BORN AGAIN, I WILL MAKE THIS IDEOLOGY MY WAY OF EXISTANCE. ONLY THE STUPID AND WEAK WILL SEE THE BLACK AND HIDE THE LIGHT AND YOU ARE HIDING THE LIGHT AND INCREASING THE DAARK. COME TO LIGHT. BUT YOU CANT BECASUE THIS IS THE WAY IN WHICH YOU EARN YOUR LIVING. IT IS THE PHILOSOPHY AND THE PRINCIPLES THAT COUNTS AND NO THE OSCURE PROPAGANDA. ANYWAY I AM NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE PEOPLE LIKE YOU, I MARCH ON, I HAVE A WAY AND I HAVE AN END. I HAVE BEEN WORKER OF ANANDA MARGA FOR 26 YEARS. IT HAS BEEN MY BEST ELECTION. | ||
| Mandy |
Ananda Marga is an international organisation with members belonging to different cultures, religions, races, socio-economic strata; having different personalities, upbringing, degrees of consciousness, etc. It wouldn't be surprising then to find among its members (even in the ruling ones), as you would in any other organisation (religion, society, enterprise, etc.), honest and dishonest people. If we were to outcast an organisation because some of its members (ruling or subordinate) are dishonest, we would have to outcast ALL of them, including the most popular religions and spiritual groups in the world. Because human beings are just not perfect and everywhere you will find greed, dishonesty, inmorality and all kinks of negative behaviour. Are we all not shocked when we hear of the Christian priests (both Catholic and non-Catholic) found to be sexually perverted? Or of the ones who cheat their own followers and run away with all the church money? And what about the followers? Don't we find murderers, smugglers, kidnappers, thieves, rapists and all kinds of obscure-behaved people who are devoted members of the Church? Are we going to blame Jesus or ban the Church for such a bunch of criminals? Are we going to prevent other people from joining Christianity because there are bad elements in this group? Of course not. Discerning minds will take the good things, learn from those who can better transmit Jesus' love message, and will put aside the bad influence of the imperfect members. Similarly, discerning minds will read between lines in the messages posted above, will research on their own, and will finally take the best they can find in Ananda Marga (or in any other group they happen to be in contact with), for their own benefit and that of humanity. This is what I did 17 years ago and I don't regret it, even when I have suffered in my own flesh the wrong-doings of some co-members. I can still see the unparalleled philosophy of one of the greatest minds I have come across. I have learned to be more spiritual than religious. That is to live spirituality rather than to recite spiritual messages like a parrot. I can also say that my religion has been enhanced by these practices, and I have learned that God is inside me not outside. And living spirituality has made me turn my eyes to suffering humanity and see everyone as my own brothers and sisters or my own children. Thus I do as much as I can to relieve their suffering. Is such an organisation to be banned or outcast by a handful of people who have not been able to see beyond their nose? Judge by yourself! | ||
| ARUNIMA |
http://shaevsatantrayoga.tripod.com/cgi-bin/ Well if you speak spanish read about the ideology of Ananda Marga. My master used to say"BAD PROPAGANDA IS GOOD PROPAGANDA! SO THANK YOU FOR OPENING SUCH A SPACE AND GIVING US THE GREAT CHANCE. ARUNIMA | ||
| Jairo |
Those people who failed in their attempt to realize through meditation who really is Anandamurti naturally try to justify their miserable failure by pointed out some misbehabiour or wekness of some monks or margiis. It is easy to see a black spot in a white bedsheet, even if it is very small, and ignore the whole whiteness of the bedsheet....Ananda Marga and the Ananda Margiis are not perfect, surely there are imperfections but hey, do not just see only the black spot that is there in the bedsheet. Do not try to hide the bitterness of your frustration as a defector by pretending to diminish the universal ideology of Ananda Marga, for which many have given their life and will be glad to be reborn to find again the glorious ideology left by Anandamurti. I wish you can have better luck next life...Now utilize your time in something constructive and do not waste your time and energy in iddle gossip. The mission will go on unstapable. You can have it garantied. Tato Dharma, Tato Ista. Tato Ista, Tato Dharma! | ||
| Ramanath |
Bangkok, Sunday 22nd of June, 2003 Dear Brothers & sisters, I have been in Ananda Marga for the past 30 years and still am. I was a monk of the organization and dedicated myself for 10 years and met Ananda Marga's founder- Shrii Shrii A'nandamu'rtijii for a few times. I do not regret the desision I made for a single moment and rather I would do it again should the opportunity arise, if not in this life then in the next and the next life. Ananda Marga is a very dynamic group and has as its core ideology : SELF REALIZATION AND SERVICE TO THE UVIVERSE. You see, we all have within us all the good and all the bad. When we start our spiritual practices we are being comfronted with all those things, with all our weaknesses and negativity that surge from within our mind. In a person who does not do meditation, the occurrence of these negative or positive incidents come at a slower pace. But as soon as we start meditation the speed is accelerated. It is similarly when you have a house in complete disorder, when you start cleaning it, it may seem that it is even in worse disorder, but when your task is finished you will enjoy the peace and cleanliness of your house and everything will shine with a new splendour. Many of those who experienced negative things in Ananda Marga and got overwhelmed by it, unfortunately remained in the negative aspect, but had they tried harder to transcend those obstacles, they would have come to realize sometlhing greater than they could have ever imagined. A devotee has to learn to surrender completely to the Guru in order to realize His boundless Grace. That is why in the spiritual path the guidance of the Guru is the most importance requisite to surmount all negative obstacles in our path. To conclude, Shrii A'nandamu'tijii and His great ideology are the only solution for the many problems that the world is facing. I was with my Guru for only a few times but the impression He left in me will remain for ever in my life. What more can I say that He is the most loving and shining example of righteousness; He is the effulgent Pole Star of the universe. Ramanath (Roberto L. Echanes) | ||
| Yaakov |
]Shrii A'nandamu'tijii and His great ideology are the only solution for the many problems that the world is facing. This sums up the problem most people have with these groups. Anytime, I hear someone say "we are the only true path" or "we are the only ones with the answers", I run in the opposite direction. | ||
| Agua |
I would like to request any ex member of the Ananda Marga organization to contact me. I have a friend who is been reaching out by a AM member and would like to make some questions in order to help her. Thanks! agua_blanda@hotmail.com | ||
| Anonymous |
Ananda Marga is a very good organisation. The Dada's and Didi's are all without exception very lovely people. Ananda Marga has an approach to God that is fundamentally different to the Abrahamic religions but rather it is based on the teachings of Tantric science. So naturally there will be a reflexive opposition from some to the system of worship and spiritual growth that is Ananda Marga if they themselves have not been exposed to this sort of spirituality before. Baba Nam Kevalam | ||
| Mandy |
TO YAAKOV AND AGUA: YAAKOV said: "This sums up the problem most people have with these groups. Anytime, I hear someone say "we are the only true path" or "we are the only ones with the answers", I run in the opposite direction." I agree with you. I usually do the same. No group should say they are the "only" group or the "true", "the best one" or anything like this. We don't. Ananda Marga doesn't say this. The founder and spiritual guide of Ananda Marga, Shrii Shrii Anandamurti, never said such a thing. So, if somebody on this board wrote this, s/he is mistaken. It's his/her own perception or interpretation. The truth is that Ananda Marga respects all spiritual groups and religions but has its own and particular approach to spirituality. Anandamurti once said that even a common man following no specific religion but being sincere and good may attain spiritual realization (liberation or what Christians call "go to heaven"), faster than the person who meditates for hours or goes to Church everyday only to show off and who may not attain liberation at all. The Truth is not the exclusive property of a particular group, organisation, religion. The Truth is everywhere. The goal is the same, the paths may be different. Some paths are easier than others. Each person chooses his/her path according to his/her present state of consciousness, experiences, opportunities, karma. We don't push anyone into becoming a member. We give whoever is interested the tools we have to help them reach their ultimate goal: Be one with the Supreme Entity, the Father/Mother, the Creator of this universe. And we give it for free. So I'm not telling you to join Ananda Marga or to move away from it. If you feel comfortable with what you're doing now and don't want to see what's beyond that, stay where you are. But if you are discussing this topic, perhaps a part of you is in quest of something else that may boost your spirit up to higher realms and new mystic experiences. Why don't you find out? The only way to know whether or not we are telling the truth is to go and see for yourself. You don't have to become a member at once. Just go and visit, attend lectures, read, ask questions, observe... Everything a good searcher should do before making any decision. You can even learn meditation without becoming a member. Experiment with it. See what you feel. Don't let others tell you this is good or bad. Judge by yourselves. You are intelligent enough to discern. Ananda Marga may or may not be your path, but it has changed my life and many others' for the good. God bless you and guide your search! | ||
| Yaakov |
Mandy You have GOT to keep your logic straight. The first half of your post has a complete disconnect with the latter half. Question: if truth is everywhere and is not the exclusive property of a particular group, why should I become a member of your religion? Didn’t you just say that my religion has the same goal, but a different path. Why did you automatically assume that my spirit isn’t already in high realms? Why would you think that your religion is superior to mine? Is this what you consider respect of other religions? You see, unlike you, I have no desire to convert anyone to my religion. I care less about what people believe and more about what people do. I am happy that your life has changed for the better. May you continue your search for spiritual attainment along your chosen path. | ||
| Roberto L. Echanes |
Bangkok, June 26, 2003 To Jaakov and Mandy Dear brother & sister, Perhaps we have misunderstood my statement. When I said that Shrii Anandamurtijii has given an ideology that is the "only" solution for the society it does not mean that we are the owner of truth, because as you said Mandy, nobody can be the owner of truth. Truth is universal. In order to attain that Supreme realization we have to practice a system of spiritual practices that can take us to that realization. But here is the fact, Yaakov, you have to practice a system of meditation or parayer, and you have to be practical in order to attain the truth, theories or mere philosophy or any intellectual speculation will lead you nowhere. What is the truth? Truth is that we live for a very short time and we do not have time to waste our life in impermanent things, but people live and do things as if death will never arrive. Truth is that human beings have a thirst for the infinite, that is why they are never happy with their lives and always run like mad dogs after objets of sensual gratification, not knowing that the source of all happiness is within themselves. And that source of Supreme peace and happiness is the Supreme Entity.The Supreme Entity is causless, eternal and He is One. He is in everything and therefore it is a Universal truth that we will all at the end attain Him, in whatever religion or system or path we may be. The end of the journey is in that Supreme Consciousness or whatever name you want to give it. However, as I said before, you can never attain Truth with your intellect or ego because truth is so subtle that it is beyond the mind. Also, when I said that Shrii Anadamurtijii's ideology is the "only" solution for the many social problems we are facing nowadays, I spoke objectively. Look at the theories of the past, Marxism, socialism, Ghandism, Freuid, Capitalism, etc. Based on Shrii Anandamurtijii's universal vision, he has given a way of life and discipline for us to develope our life in the physical,mental and spiritual realms. Through His spiritual teachings He has changed the lives of millions of people around the world. He has given solutions in the field of social development, economoic, financial, art, science,music, language,philosophy, spirituality, etc. etc. Furthermore, for our many socio-political-economic problems that we are facing with the threat of Communism and Capitalism ideologies, He has given us PROUT (Progressive Utilization Theory). And there is much more that Shrii Anandamurtijii has given to this world. Perhaps if you care to know we can share with you and you can study by yourself. In Ananda Marga we do not employ any system of conversion. We really do not care to convert you to our path. Everyone is free to decide. It is your life. We are writing to you because we want to clarify things and that is all. Really speaking someone who has known the Supreme does not need to argue or waste the time in arguing about the truth or whether my or your belief is superior. We don't do that. It is a waste of time. I hope you find the truth one day, and I am not assuming anything regarding your spiritual development. That you can know by yourself. Brotherly yours in Him. Ramanath | ||
| Yaakov |
]Perhaps you have misunderstood my statement. Given the assumptions you make in this post, I seriously doubt it. ]When I said that Shrii Anandamurtijii has given an ideology that is the "only" solution for the society it does not mean that we are the owner of truth, because as you said Mandy, nobody can be the owner of truth. Truth is universal. In order to attain that Supreme realization we have to practice a system of spiritual practices that can take us to that realization. So, truth is universal, eh? But only you know how to attain this truth. That makes much more sense….Not! ]But here is the fact, Yaakov, you have to practice a system of meditation or parayer, and you have to be practical in order to attain the truth, theories or mere philosophy or any intellectual speculation will lead you nowhere. Wrong, this is your opinion, not a fact. ]Truth is that we live for a very short time and we do not have time to waste our life in impermanent things, but people live and do things as if death will never arrive. Truth is that human beings have a thirst for the infinite, that is why they are never happy with their lives and always run like mad dogs after objets of sensual gratification, not knowing that the source of all happiness is within themselves. And that source of Supreme peace and happiness is the Supreme Entity. The Supreme Entity is causless, eternal and He is One. He is in everything and therefore it is a Universal truth that we will all at the end attain Him, in whatever religion or system or path we may be. The end of the journey is in that Supreme Consciousness or whatever name you want to give it. I agree with this. God is Eternal, Unique, and One. People’s thirst for material possessions can become a type of idol worship. God wants us to have pleasure and following God’s laws is the best way to attain that pleasure. Also, we are ALL getting to Heaven (which by definition is being with God) eventually. I have come to these truths without your system of meditation, but instead, within my own religion. ]when I said that Shrii Anadamurtijii's ideology is the "only" solution for the many social problems we are facing nowadays, I spoke objectively. Wrong, you spoke subjectively. Look these words up in the dictionary. ]Look at the theories of the past, Marxism, socialism, Ghandism, Freuid, Capitalism, etc. Based on Shrii Anandamurtijii's universal vision, he has given a way of life and discipline for us to develope our life in the physical,mental and spiritual realms. Through His spiritual teachings He has changed the lives of millions of people around the world. He has given solutions in the field of social development, economoic, financial, art, science,music, language,philosophy, spirituality, etc. etc. So? Marxism, socialism, etc. have all changed the lives of millions of people around the world. These systems have all given solutions in multiple fields. Your system is just one of many systems. Perfection is impossible (and unattainable) since we are all imperfect humans…just as God created us. God expects us to become BETTER, not perfect. ]Really speaking someone who has known the Supreme does not need to argue or waste the time in arguing about the truth or whether my or your belief is superior. We don't do that. It is a waste of time. Good. Remember your own words “We all have the same goals, but different paths.” I believe my religion is superior, but you sound like you are doing OK yourself. ]I hope you find the truth one day, and I am not assuming anything regarding your spiritual development Ramanath, you have just assumed that I haven’t found the truth. Not a good way to end. Someday, you might listen to what you yourself actually say. | ||
| Bhuvana-Mohan Dasa |
All Glories To Srila Prabhupada! Please accept my humble obeisances. As a former Margi, now ISKCON devotee, I have the deepest appreciation for an organization, such as Ananda Marga, that seeks to guide people in taking up spiritual practices, while at the same time addressing an unfortunate social reality in pragmatic terms. Ours is not the day for "contemplating one's navel in a cave". People are suffering, in need of food and medicine- these are needs that MUST be addressed, and Ananda Marga (through such subsidiaries as AMURT) marches in the vanguard of those who are out to make a positive difference. On a spiritual level, Ananda Marga is about Paramatma realization, achieved through a twice daily regimen of impersonalistic Mayavadin mantra meditation and hatha yoga asanas, as prescribed by one's acarya. The Margi sees himself/herself as a manifestation of the Supreme (Brahman). Unfortunately, the effect of teaching non-celibate New Age moral cripples to consider themselves as being on a par with God is often less than salutary~ it tends to promote rather than diminish ahamkara (false ego), and one sees among Margis (at least here in the U.S.) a marked indifference (if not outright unfriendliness) toward each other, which is often excused as being "Tantric", hence, desirable. I value the time I gave to Ananda Marga- indeed, it fit quite nicely into the sum total of life experiences that helped me to find MY path to Krishna. your servant, Bhuvana-Mohan Dasa. | ||
| Mandy |
YAAKOV, what is the purpose of your participation on this board? Do you have any specific question to ask about Ananda Marga? Do you want to clarify any points about us, anything you might have heard or read? Just ask. You seem to be "on guard" all the time. Relax! We are not attacking you or your religion (I don't even know what your religion is!). We're not saying one path is superior to any other. There's no superior or inferior path. Each person is where God wants him/her to be. We are not telling you to "convert". WE ARE NOT A RELIGION!! Members of Ananda Marga have different creeds and religions. We're just showing whoever is interested a path to help reach his/her ultimate goal: Be one with the Supreme Entity. You don't have to be here if you're happy where you are. You can reach your goal there if you firmly believe so. No questioning about that. But if you want to know about us, you're welcome to search. So, ask any questions you might have in your mind. We'll be willing to answer. This is what I intended to say in my note dated June 25 (You might as well re-read it). We are all brothers and Sisters in Him. May He shower His Grace upon all of us. Sisterly, in Him, MANDY | ||
| shubhacetananda |
I am member of ananda marga since 20 years. This is only mission I found in my life by which people can lead a balanced life. This is man making mission. | ||
| Anonymous |
I've been a Margii for 32 years. I was very active in the early 1970s, then semi retired for a long time as I advanced my career and raised a large family. During that period I got baptised into the Catholic Church and studied the Christian scriptures, attended Mass etc. faithfully. Now that I am getting older, I have become deeply involved with Ananda Marga again. This is for a lot of reasons. 1) Ananda Marga is not perfect, - but as far as religions, sects, cults go, it is pretty darn good. There is a lot less foolishness and mythology in Ananda Marga than there is in the Catholic Church for example. I think that the troubles others have citied are largely due to the lack of funds and the extreme idealism of the group, which is sometimes hard to live up to. 2) The spiritual practice taught in Ananda Marga really works. The exercises are somewhat difficult, but if you practice them faithfully, then you truly experience deep states of union with the almighty. This is the goal of all spiritual practice. There are many kinds of meditation and prayer practiced in the Catholic Church, but it is a hit-or-miss proposition, and common parishoners are really given nothing beyond the Mass and books of prayers to help them. With Ananda Marga, all are benefitted by practicing the lessons taught by the Acaryas, -- much persoal attention and guidance is given. 3) I am very sceptical of religious groups that have a lot of money, that spend and waste money on beautiful temples and fancy food and costumes when so many people are miserable and starving in our world. Ananda Marga reminds me a lot of St. Francis - there is a militant political philosophy of human equality and sharing of God's resources that is central to Ananda Marga, and that is a big factor in my liking for the group. I'm not trying to convert anybody, but Ananda Marga is really something very special and precious, and I think it deserves consideration from serious spiritual seekers. | ||
| miguel Guerra Leon |
Antes que nada agradezco los comentarios de todos (compartan o no mis opiniones). Bueno en verdad nuca fui el unico que pidio una excomunion y ahora mucho menos gracias a la particion de medios de difusion (la republica, cesar hildebrabdt y medios del exterior). Pero creo que una excomunion es un tema polemico pero hay tantos temas por tocar. Aveces se habla (como yo tambien y dicho)de que perdemos energia en muchas cosas, pero se han puestoa pensar ¿porque no proponer algo en lo cual no perder esas energias? ¿En olvidarse de ideologias para no terminar en ataques?, casi siempre defendemos nuestro frente como si, fuera la verdad absoluta y queriendo mancillar a los demas. Como sostengo individualmente hacemos poco y colectivamente creamos agrupacines que nunca se ponen de acuerdo y crean brechas en la humanidad. Ya es hora que esto pare si de verdad quieren encontrar ese mundo mejor, sino la utopia en palabras efimeras continuarar hasta que la tierra y nuestros dias acaben. PD. Seria preferible y mas correcto dejar una forma con sus nombres y mails para contestar en casos merecidos o para pasarles la voz cuando la web este actualizada. Gracias por todo. Miguel Guerra Leon escritor / libre Pensador http://www.elvalle.tk http://www.excomunion.tk http://www3.larepublica.com.pe/2003/JULIO/pdf27/ http://argentina.indymedia.org/news/2003/07/122288.php | ||
| Rik |
(The Netherlands) I was a member of Ananda Marga for one and a half year or so. It is now two years ago. I left because I had great doubts about loosing myself, my identity and of becomming socialy isolated. At moments I miss my acharya very much. I always felt a love when I was with him. I also miss the expiriences (of love) that I had with that kind of meditation (bhakti). The situation is now that I cannot believe anymore that the things you expirience with Mantra-meditation are of an absolute truth. What I mean is that the Mantra generates an expirience, so if you do a lot of mantra-meditation you are gonna view and expirience the world accordingly to it. So if you contemplate on hate instead on love then you will expirience that! But still I have (sometimes) a desire to do (Ananda Marga) mantra-meditation, and often miss the love of my acharya. Are there Ananda Marga members who can relate to my situation, and to my view of (Ananda Marga) meditation? | ||
| Anonymous |
My friend has been involved with Ananda Marga for about 15 months and in many ways appears to have been brain washed..... Will any ex members please tell me if they felt as if they had also been brainwashed and how they broke away from this cult. | ||
| Anonymous |
I have a friend who got into the Ananda Marga trap. I wanted to help person to get out of this mess. It is really pity to know on how they misguided and used all kind of tricks to control the young mind in the name of self- realization and social service. I strongly suspect they must have given a drug to control the person's mind. I believe this is common to change the mind of young generation. I will be grateful if any one can help this person. | ||
| Anonymous |
shubacetananda says ananda marga is man making mission. Yes without any doubt ananda marga is a man making mission...their mission is to trap young adults at universities and bend their minds by the time they turn adults. All in the name of attaining salvation.You run a yoga club at each university offering voluntary service and trap young adults ,bend their minds all in the name of upliftment of self. You are sinners,self centered. Every tear in the eyes of their near and dear ones will be a curse on you. | ||
| Anonymous |
I do not believe drugs are used but the power of auto sugestion during meditation is just as effective.Naive young people are asked to empty their minds so they can be filled with all kinds of rubbish by power crazy nutters. From simple dietry control to plans to rule the world.... Has anyone any evidence of voluntary work that is not recruitment of vunerable young people ???? | ||
| Anonymous |
Ananda Marga is organization in turmoil after the death of the original founder. It is split into multiple factions and is controlled by white supremacists(some parts of the world)and by Bengali mafia(in most places). They continously bicker among themselves and kill each other - all in the name of AnandaMarga. Please check the URLs below. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1030921/asp/bengal/story_2386492.asp http://www.telegraphindia.com/1030920/asp/bengal/story_2384356.asp. Different factions of Ananda Marga are aggresively recruiting students at University campuses to use them as foot soldiers in their killing fields. Students of the world Beware!! Students approached by Ananda Margiis should ask for the case studies of so called "social work" done by Ananda Marga, other than a few photographs of Gujarat Earthquake relief. | ||
| Anonymous |
Whoever pasted last seem to be under the impression that these Margiis have done a great job during Gujarat Earthquake. Yes they do have some good photographs. As a one time Margii I am privy to information that AM has collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in U.S. with the help of the above photographs etc. The money was collected by several individuals in the name of AM. There was no record of the collections, how much was collected and how much was actually spent on Gujarat earthquake relief. I was fed up with the constant bickering between the Dadas and others over these funds and quit in disgust as I felt cheated that they have collected money for a good cause and were not accountable to the persons who helped to collect the money or the persons who donated the money. I know one thing for sure. They constantly solicit donations in kind/food in the name of public service and end up consuming most of the donations at their weekly meetings. | ||
| Anonymous |
Given below are some of the so called benefits of the Ananda Marga Dance, Kaoshikii Nritya. While some of them sound straight out of a Cosmetic ad, other claims encompass all possible illnesses. Please note the ones below are only 11 of the 22 diseases(wrinkles, is a disease !) this dance is supposed to cure. Can someone in AM stand up and give scientific proof of their wild claims? Have any tests/studies been done ? 1. The mind becomes strong and sharp 2. It adds charm and shine to the face and skin 3. It removes wrinkles 4. It removes lethargy 5. It cures insomnia 6. It cures hysteria 7. Fear complex will be removed 8. Hopelessness will be lost 9. it helps in self-__expression and develops one’s personality 10 Spinal pain, piles, hernia, hydrocele in men, nervous pain, nervous disability will be cured 11. it cures kidney and gall bladder troubles, gastric trouble, dyspepsia, acidity, dysentery, syphilis, gonorrhea, obesity, thinness, and liver diseases Stop fooling gullible people. How many of you margiis who do this dance day in and day out are free from any of the diseases mentioned above? You say that "Fear complex" will be removed. How come then you are such a secretive organization? What is it that you fear? Fear of exposure!! | ||
| Anonymous |
We have lost our dear one to ananda marga recently. We would like to receive help from anyone or ex margis to get in touch with us to help us to get this person out of this cult. Your help will be greatly appreciated. thelma@myownmail.com | ||
| Anonymous |
OK, let me see if I can add a balanced opinion to this thread. I have been a margii for 15 years, and am still involved. I have found that the spiritual practices themselves have changed my life in a very positive way. I believe the these practices are very effective. It is true that the organization is pretty screwed up and in the midst of all kinds of political turmoil. Also, many illegal activities have been carried out by the monks/nuns and margiis all in the name of "Dharma", which seems to be used to justify any kind of behavior. For those of you who are worried about "losing" family members, I'd say for the most part that is an unwarrented fear inculcated by those who fear anything that is not "mainstream". I would give a word of caution though: If your family member is particularly feeble minded, gullible, etc., then maybe Ananda Marga is not the best place for them. The question is: What are the motives for joining? If you are doing it as a conscious decision to serve the Lord and the world, and you are able to think for yourself, then great! If the decision is just based on a susceptability to being influenced by others, then that person is going to be at risk of being taken advantage of in any religious or spiritual organization. Ananda Marga has a mission and not many resources, and so people get more pressure to contribute their time, energy, and money than in larger, richer organizations. I'm sure there is no "nefarious plan" on the part of Ananda Marga or its representatives to "brainwash" people or get them to give up their life savings, or cease contact with their families, etc. It is true that Ananda Marga does meet some of the criteria listed for "mind control cults", but the criteria met are largely ideological ones. Heck, the catholic church meets some of those! I, like many others I know, have established firm boundaries for what I am willing to do for Ananda Marga. I have a family and job that keep me busy. I give time and money to monks and nuns who I can see are doing tangeable service in the world. I never just throw time or money at things because someone wants me to. Overall, I doubt that I, or most members of Ananda Marga, give much more time or money than the typical catholic, jew, muslim, etc. would give to their church. As I said before, it is a relatively small organization that is spread thin, so the level of individual participation does of necessity need to be a bit higher than in established large religious groups. So if you think your family member has been "brainwashed" by Ananda Marga, I suggest you look objectively at their behavior and level of happiness. My wife's parents were (maybe still are) all freaked out about her being involved, but when you look objectively at our lives, you have to wonder why. We have a nice house, two great kids, we work regular jobs, have a wide variety of friends and contacts in our local community. We're basically just normal people who happen to practice a type of spirituality that is not commonly known in the mainstream. I think that my wife's parents' fear comes from the fear tactic anti-cult propoganda sponsored by maintream religions and the government. Their fear also comes from the fact that they are extremely catholic and thus afraid she will go to hell because she is not a devotee of Jesus. Sure, Ananda Marga is probably a cult, but are all cults bad? Don't you think Jesus and his followers in the early days were a cult? So what is the Catholic church now - a very wealthy and successful cult? I don't mean to sound anti-catholic, by the way, it just happens to be an example of a spiritual path that has cultish beliefs (ie: Jesus is the ONLY way to salvation), but somehow never gets questioned, just because it is popular. So those are my two cents (well, maybe I put in more than two cents) for whatever it's worth. | ||
| Anonymous |
From your 15 yrs of experience, can you list all the !tangeable services !that you are personally aware of that the monks and nuns have done and you feel proud off and hence justifying the time and money you are spending for this org for so many yrs. | ||
| Anonymous |
You can go to the AMURT website (www.amurt.net) or (www.anandamarga.net) and see for yourself what service projects Ananda Marga has going around the world. | ||
| Anonymous |
Hello! Talk about what Ananda Marga is doing in US. Is there is a single social service project running in US? How many of the Margiis based in US have actually served physically in the projects going on around the world? It is easy to sit in US within the luxuries of your glass houses with wife and kids and talk about converting young adolescents to monks and celibates. Read some of the mails above. Are you sure all the money you are donating is reaching the right people and the right project? | ||
| Anonymous |
By the way are your kids into Ananda Marga? Are you sure no criminal in the garb of an Acarya/Yoga instructor is eyeing your kids in your absence? How many of your margiis have criminal records in the US? How many instances of child abuse by fellow Margiis have been reported to Ananda Marga authorities? Why do some US based Margiis require psychiatric treatment? No wonder your wive's parents are freaked out about your and your wive's involvement(assuming she is a voluntary participant herself). History will be a witness. If your kids embrace Ananda Marga on their own free will(no carrot/stick please!), then your in-law's may be proven wrong after all. Good Luck!! Make sure your kids are safe first!! | ||
| Anonymous |
Few months back we as a family with young kids became the followers of Ananda marga. Mail posted on 08/10/03 make me worry about my kids. Few Margis are regular visitors to my family. Some times we leave our children alone with the visiting Margis. Any Margi watching this chat, can you please comment and counter this allegation. Is there any Margi ever involved in Child abuse? This is insane if any person is involved and continue to be a member of Ananda Marga. Such members should be severly punished by Ananda Marga and banned even to enter into the ashrams. | ||
| Anonymous |
please refer to wed oct 8 message. my email address is thelma@myownemail.com. There was a mistake in the email address. Those of you who tried to communicate with me can you please send once again.I am sorry for the error in my mail address thanks | ||
| Anonymous |
I think my children are safer in Ananda Marga than they would be in many other groups. Considering the amount of child abuse that has taken place in other groups (again, the Catholic church is a good example), I'd say the few instances that have taken place in Ananda Marga over the years are, relatively speaking, a better track record than for most groups. I am aware of one example of one Margii who was accused of sexual misconduct with a child, and he has been banned from Ananda Marga retreats. The Ananda Marga monks and nuns have specific practices to help them maintain their celibacy, unlike many other groups. Having said that, I'd also say that no, I probably wouldn't leave my kids alone with one of them any more than I'd leave them with a priest of any other order or group. With all the publicity the Catholic church got recently, I think we all have good reason to be cautious about that. Regarding the psychiatric treatment question - Are you aware of how many Americans are in psychiatric treatment?! Considering the incidence of mental illness in this country, I'd say Margiis are no more susceptable than anyone else. Having said that, I would say that many mentally ill people are drawn to spiritual groups in general, since they are seeking a cure that has not been provided by the medical community. In these cases, it's not the cult that made them crazy, that condition was pre-existing. To the person who keeps asking about social service projects, you obviously didn't research the links I posted or you would have seen what is happening in the USA. I'm not sure why some of you out there have so much venom to spit at Ananda Marga, but I think I've said all I need to say. Clearly you will just continue to find other means to attack this group, and I was really just trying to present a balanced opinion - I'm not interested in continuing to defend against what will likely be a never ending stream of negativity. Does anyone have a genuine question, motivated by something other than anger and/or fear? If so, I will be happy to answer it. Otherwise, this will be my last post. Like I said, there are many ways in which Ananda Marga is dysfunctional and there are also many ways in which Ananda Marga is exemplary. May you all attain your spiritual goal. Namaskar | ||
| Anonymous |
Yes Sir! I did check the URLs given by you and searched for activities in North America. There are but two real social service activities documented 1) Food For All - Help to Homeless in Washington DC 2) Food distribution in A Kansas park. No detail and not sure if they were one time activities. Rest are all Agricultural farms/yoga classes\meditation classes - hardly examples of Social Service. What you guys are upto is self service Don't runaway like this. I have attended a few Ananda Marga activities myself. I was lured into this in my college days(two years back) by some some glib talk about the decadent American capitalistic society and the need for social service etc.etc. I waited for a few months for anything to happen, other than the endless lectures & songs. I realized that rich people like you with all the trappings of materialistic life come to Ananda Marga for stress relief. Do some mediatation and go. No different from any yoga/mediatation society. Instead of misleading the students/public about your real agenda, why don't you say that you are a Yoga/Meditation society and make some money in the bargain. | ||
| Anonymous |
Namaskar, If an Ananda Margii has been accused of sexual misconduct with a child, why is he still in Ananda Marga ? Why is he banned only from attending a retreat ? | ||
| Anonymous |
OK, OK, social service guy/gal(?), I obviously have not answered your question in a satisfactory way (congrats, you've suckered me back in - you should be a cult recruiter! or telemarketer! - Ha ha, just kidding ;-). The projects in third world countries are geared towards education, sustainability and disaster relief, whereas the efforts in the USA do have more of an emphasis on psychological and spiritual service. Some margiis and acharyas charge for yoga classes but most do not. Most other groups charge for yoga classes. Learning meditation from an acharya is always free. If you don't consider these activities "service" when they are given free of charge, then you are right, there is not much happening in the USA. I know at my local level, we give free yoga/meditation classes, and raise money to help specific global projects that we or someone we know has checked out, and verified that it is doing good work. I can already anticipate your response - "oh, yoga classes are just a front to recruit people into your cult". Well, every church or spiritual group has to have some way to make themselves known to the public so interested people can join. There are no high pressure tactics or mind games being played in my locality, or other places I've lived; I can't speak for everyone. Truthfully, Ananda Marga is not for most people. The practices are very rigorous, and it's very indian culture dominated which turns many people off. So when we give yoga classes we are mainly just exposing people to yoga/spirituality in the spirit of serving them psychologically and spiritually - planting a seed that may well sprout in the context of some other group. Very few people from these classes become margiis, and of those who do, very few continue for any length of time. It's just too weird for most western people. It's much more popular in India. I myself have to take what I like of it, and leave the rest. Oh, by the way, if you think I'm rich, I must have made a misleading statement somewhere, or you took it the wrong way. I'm just a regular lower-middle class Joe. I guess that is rich compared to a really poor Joe, or a homeless Joe, or certainly a starving third world Joe. It's all relative. Compared to Bill Gates, I'm in poverty. | ||
| Anonymous |
Regarding the question of why is a margii accused of sexual misconduct only banned from retreats and not Ananda Marga at large: People like that have a mental disease that needs to be treated so they will not continue to cause harm. They need to be removed from situations where they could cause harm, but should we also abandon them completely? That's how our jail system works. Instead of trying to reform people onto the right path, we just lock them up for a period of time and then turn them loose on society as even more hardened criminals who will repeat their offenses (or worse) in most cases. | ||
| Anonymous |
I agree that this margi who is accused of sexual misconduct and diagnosed to have a mental illness should be given proper treatment. Mental illness is chronic and hard to get away with and should be under constant scrutiny.What is of imminent concern to me as a margi is whether he is involved in any service related activities such as those involved with teaching, preaching to public or margis? He shouldn't be doing them at any cost. Has he been removed from these situations where he could cause harm? | ||
| Anonymous |
RE: Sexual misconduct - I don't live in his locality, so I'm really not sure what happens there. I don't know if he attends dharma chakra (collective meditation)or is involved in any service project they may have there. I do know there is debate amongst the margiis there about how to handle the situation. I doubt he is doing any activities that involve public relations, mainly because he is not the sort of person the public would be attracted to. He lacks what margiis call "objective adjustment". While we're on the topic though, I have heard of a Dada that was accused of sexual misconduct some years back, and instead of being expelled (defrocked), he was just reposted to another part of the world. This is exactly what the Catholic church has done with their priests who committed the same crime. I find it very disturbing and disgusting. Again, I reitterate that Ananda Marga is in many ways a very dysfunctional cult which people have good reason to have reservations about. I also want emphasize that the spiritual practices in and of themselves and ideology of Ananda Marga are highly developed, and a very effective means of pursuing the spiritual goal, and are the main reason I still have an association with the group. You may ask: "If the spiritual practices are so amazing, then why is the group so dysfunctional?" That is a valid question I ask myself, and for which I do not have a satisfying answer. Perhaps spiritual elevation is not a precursor to social skills or organizational management skills. I'd say the majority of margiis and acharyas truly want nothing more than to fulfill the motto "self realization and service to all". But there are certainly plenty of unscrupulous characters, scam artists, and generally misguided and dogmatic people as well. Unfortunately, those tend to be the ones who rise to positions of power in the organizational structure. Go figure. My main goal here is not so much to defend Ananda Marga, but to try to dispell some of the distortions of the truth, outright lies, and dogmatic fear I've seen on this list, while acknowledging those things that are true. | ||
| Anonymous |
I am sure some of the margis following through these lists know whether or not this margi (acused sexual misconduct) is attending DC's or is involved in any public relation activity. If anyone out there knows anything about it please come forward to enlighten us on this. It is very important to dispell this fear. If the catholic church has faced this problem they were bold enough to talk about it in public as and when they came to know about it and are taking necessary corrective measures. | ||
| Anonymous |
I don't mean to be contrary, but the only reason the Catholic church "faced the problem" and talks about it in public, is that several individuals came forward with accusations that were brought to the US judiciary system and then made public by the media. The church administration had no intention of making this public and in fact had (maybe still has?) a written policy to not make this type of situation public. They were only reacting out of necessity to the public outcry. I wouldn't doubt that many other religions would do the same thing. It's a reflexive instinct to hide your misdeeds from the public eye. | ||
| Anonymous |
Hey Friend - Defender of Ananda Marga. I sort of started liking you and the spirit and objectivity of your answers. Let us carry on the discussion as much as our time permits. As a fellow margii(I am not that regular at DCs though), I see your point. I am disenchanted with the way AM is going. See below. Lets take the sexual misconduct issue. If we try to compare ourselves with Roman Catholic Church and defend our own internal action/inaction - how do we differentiate ourselves. Why don't we finish enquiry and throw the accused out of AM once and for all, instead of listening to the barrage of criticisms from within and outside, all the time. On the question of dysfunctionality/internal fighting etc, the news stories (see URLs in some of the mails above) are a blot on AM. Here within US we have so many groups within AM, the white lobby as some put it, the Bengali lobby, the Dadas lobby etc. etc. We had a campaign in the recent past against the SS NY sector, we had the case of the Dadas trying to obstruct a fellow Margii from entering US, at the last Ananda Kaanan we had wasted enough time about a sexual misconduct case and we had to answer frantic parents of a boy allegedly abducted by a section of Ananda Marga etc. etc. I still here chatter about the misappropriation of Gujarat fund contributions. Lets get our publicity right. When we talk of Yoga/Mediatation lets talk only about that. Let us make a business out of it - No Profit No Loss. Let us not mix social service and Yoga/Meditation classes. The whole concept of bartering fees to social service is bound to create mistrust in the eyes of potential students and also the kith and kin of the prospective students. Let us not make any wild claims about the benefits of yoga/meditation/Kaoshikii. One of the mails above is disturbing. If any Margii is publicizing such benefits as mentioned, it is bound to invite ridicule on the individual as well as AM itself. Let us have a centralized publicity committe who will approve of all publicity materials instead of leaving it to half baked publicists for AM. Let us pool our resources and have big public education seminars in open public places. Let the process of attracting students be open. If we have two or three new students for a yoga/meditation class and two or three Margiis are also present, we are bound to invite criticism that we are brainwashing/mindcontrol/ drug inducement etc.. I know of a Margii who has a meditation room - the atmosphere in the room is gloomy. You have to enter through a dark passage in the house. The room is full of aroma of incense sticks. Imagine a single student being taken there and initiated into AM. If any of the students immediate relatives see the atmosphere they are bound to conclude that the student has been drugged and subsequently mind controlled to be initiated into AM. Why live with such doubts. I am not sure if some of our fellow margiis are indeed using such techniques to boost membership. In short, lets get rid of unsavoury elements in our group, lets get open and get our publicity right. BNK | ||
| Anonymous |
I admire your enthusiasm margii friend, but in the present climate of Ananda Marga, I feel that my efforts to rectify or make the organization more effective would be futile. Anyone who goes against the Hindi administration gets ignored, marginalized, and ultimately risks expulsion. AM is so disorganized and poorly run that the only good I feel I can do is in my local unit. Even then, the bhukti pradhan here is "staying the course" as a loyal subject of the ruling group. And what of the other groups? The Bengali contingent is just as crazy as the Hindis, and the "Non-Indian" contingent - well, they just aren't going to get anywhere. We all know that westerners are second class citizens in this organization. They are viewed as apparently too caught up in "pseudo-culture", and the "trappings of materialism" (as someone on this list accused me of) to be true spiritual aspirants worthy of a place in the AM administration. So, in short, I don't know exactly how to bring reform to AM. My approach is to stick with the ideology and practices, and make it clear that I will not support in any way behavior that I find dysfunctional. I am giving most of these organizational authorities a "vote of no confidence" until I see that they truly have made reforms on their own initiative. If enough margiis took this stance, I think the administration would be forced to do something different because they would not have a support base. I think the best thing you can do is act locally by setting a good example with your local group, and being selective about which acharyas you allow to come visit. Make this stance public amongst the other margiis, and maybe it will catch on. | ||
| Anonymous |
I just jumped in and read the last posting. On a lighter note I wish there was a California type recall in AM system | ||
| Anonymous |
Ha ha! Sense of humor noted! Unfortunately, we would probably end up with an Arnold Schwarznegger as our next General Secretary. If you are familiar with the political spectrum of AM, you can guess who that might be! | ||
| Anonymous |
I live midway between Bay Area and Sacramento. I was advised by some family friends to try Yoga and Meditation to overcome some of my physical problems. I was browsing through my favorite Indian portal and found the following listings for Yoga. One of them talks about Ananda Marga. I hope the person with child abuse history is not the same as the one mentioned in this advertisement. I searched the address given in the classified advertisement. It is the address of the Ananda Marga Lost Altos Unit. Someone please let me know immediately. I want to stay away from such persons. I have three children. I don't want them to be exposed to such predators. http://www.sulekha.com/classifieds/classifiedsdisplay.asp?cid=36845 http://www.sulekha.com/classifieds/classifiedsdisplay.asp?cid=40713 http://www.sulekha.com/classifieds/classifiedsdisplay.asp?cid=37019 | ||
| Objective Margii |
(I've started using a username so people know which "Anonymous" I am) Regarding yoga classes in CA: I hesitate to say this since I'm not 100% certain. But I'm pretty sure that the first link is one and the same guy who is accused of sexual misconduct. It looks like my guess that he is not involved with the public may have been incorrect. His supporters claim he is reformed and should be given another chance, but I say better safe than sorry - try a different group! But keep your wits about you, because there are plenty of wackos out there. I don't want to discourage you from yoga, because it really will help you. Just be careful to research (as you have!) who you are learning from. | ||
| Anonymous |
Namaskar, I agree with you on the AM situation. I have not given up hope either. At an appropriate time I will find a way to contact you. We should do something or get out of the system. This is stifling. As a westerner myself, I totally agree with your reading of the power game. I wonder what will be the repurcussions of the Indian killings on the local politics. By the way, in the posting above are they referring to that bearded lunatic character from Bay Area? I thought we had enough of that nonsense at Ananda Kaanan. Our friends in Houston and New York should take a final decision and get rid of him. I remember it was decided that he should not associate himself publicly with Ananda Marga and stop using Ananda Marga name in all his personal/private advertisements. I will check with my Bay Area friends - forget it! Looking at the current AM situation I feel like disassociating from AM publicly and continue Baba's Meditation. It is because of people like you who think alike I am continuing. BNK | ||
| Objective Margii |
Now that I have had time to think some more, it occurs to me that it is amazing that the person in CA wrote in to this list and the person in question was actually the same (I'm 99% sure)crazy guy. That is either quite a coincidence, or just plain divine intervention. "Baba's grace" as the margiis like to say. Wow... To the other disaffected margii: I feel your pain brother/sister(?). This situation is intollerable. I am also at the brink of dissociating from the "organization" while still following the "path". I'd prefer it though, if the organization would get its act together! I'm still hanging in there, but something has to give soon. You know, I've mentioned most of the various factions, but not the 8 protesting acharyas in NY Sector. What is your take on them? I don't know all of them, but I know one of them quite well, and he is someone I really trust. (let's not mention names, so as to "protect the innocent"). | ||
| Anonymous |
These exchanges even from the devotees of AM all appear to confirm that gullible, weekminded souls are brainwashed.. If we accept this then all these people with queer names and titles are gullible, weekminded and have already been brainwashed. These same people are now brainwashing others and this is the most frightening aspect of this cult which is not a religion. The whole membership of this cult are completely lost to any idea of reality. From a simple soul who believes that our brains are our own and should not at any time in any way be stolen or meddled with to satisfy the egos of the followers of a ex railway worker who dreamt up a get rich scheme. | ||
| Anonymous |
This is partial text of a confession made by the Reverend Yoga Instructor/Ananda Margii/Acarya recently. "I am pleased with the meeting last week. Now Dada wants to know, on what charges i have been convicted and he says to resolve. I told that i dont have to incriminate any information and that any information , they can use against me on, and that people are cruel and it will be digging my grave. But he inisted upon the charge and to get from the court is too much for me to be asked." If the guy is really innocent, why can't he go to a court and get the papers. He has been flashing as evidence a letter from a public defender - an attorney paid for by the state, not court records proving his innocence. Incidentally the deputy public defender in question is also an Ananda Margii under a different alias currently. The court system in United States clearly has provisions to clear a person wrongly maligned. If the guy can't pay for it, all his friends can pool the money and help him instead of crying hoarse. As mentioned by an "objective margii" in a posting above, be careful about whom you learn from. | ||
| Objective Margii |
Wow. All those years of higher education, and now I've been reduced to a "weakminded" brainwash victim! I should send my diplomas back for a refund - I've been ripped off! I guess everyone could see that by the content of my postings (assuming you live in a bizarro world where the normal rules of logic and discernment don't apply!) But seriously, it's not good form to "diss" someone's guru. Would you say to a Christian that Jesus was just a carpenter who "dreamt up a get rich scheme?" Bad form, very bad form. | ||
| Anonymous |
Objective ?????? Do you know whose brain you are using ?????? Stop comparing your cult to religious organisations. There is no comparison. Bits of paper do not prove a thing. Do not even suggest intelligence. Live you own life, if you are free to do so. Leave others to do the same. | ||
| Objective Margii |
Another brilliant rebuttal! You should be on a debate team. I'd say more, but my long-haired, sandal-footed leader is rolling out the brainwashing machine now - it's time for my daily treatment. Om... Om... Om... Hee hee :-) | ||
| Anonymous |
The monks practice Tantra in ananda marga. What does this involve? | ||
| Objective Margii |
I'll leave a more detailed answer to your question about Tantra for another Margii who may have more time to reply to such a broad question. I do, however, want to dispell a common myth about Tantra. In the USA, Tantra has been popularized as the "yoga of sex". While sex is one very small aspect of tantra yoga, it is only a drop in the overall bucket. Ananda Marga does not deal with the sexual aspect of Tantra at all. Ananda Marga is a form of Tantra, and also the practices are a type of Astaunga Yoga. There are some myths and distortions of this term as well - many treat it as a high-impact aerobic hatha yoga, but in actuality it is an 8-fold path of specific physical, psychological and (mostly) spiritual practices. | ||
| Anonymous |
Is it not true that monks practice sacred sex(tantra) to attain/maitain celibacy?? | ||
| Objective Margii |
Not Ananda Marga monks. I can't speak for other groups. Ananda Marga monks practice fasting four times per month in accordance with lunar cycles, and wear a lungota (a type of tight-fitting loincloth), in addition to specific meditation practices (purely psycho-spiritual - not involving other people, or sexual contact, etc.) to help them maintain their celibacy. | ||
| Objective Margii |
Oh yea... there are also specific asanas (yoga postures), such as the "cow's head" posture, that help control the sexual urge. | ||
| Anonymous |
There are also Massages that margis perform on others/undertake to help control sexual urge. Voluntary service once again yea!! why not it gives you bliss. It seems everything can be done in the name of yoga . Perhaps your master said that agian was the right thing to do. Use your mind not masters, a sadist railway employee who tried to brainwash several during his time,you inturn are doing this to several other vulnerable ones. Dare to comment any margis!! | ||
| Objective Margii |
I've never heard of massages that control sexual urges. I know devotees used to massage the guru when he was alive, as an act of devotion or whatever, but I haven't heard that there was any sexual component to it. A massage is most often not a sexual thing, you know. Really, Margiis are the biggest bunch of prudes you'll ever meet! The Ananda Marga culture culture tends to encourage people to wear conservative, non-revealing clothing, etc. And sexuality is not a common topic of conversation. Ananda Marga has lots of things to be legitimately criticized, but regarding sexuality, the criticism would more appropriately be that Margiis/acharyas are too sexually repressed, not that they are into weird or "tantric" sexual practices, massages, etc. Your comment seems to be just another attempt to discredit Ananda Marga using false information. Really, there are plenty of legitimate grounds upon which you can discredit Ananda Marga - why not choose one of those? | ||
| Anonymous |
Objective Margii, Thank you for your posting on 10th. I happened to see it today. Based on your advice I have chosen another yoga instructor. Thank you for confirming that he is indeed the guy accused of sexual misconduct. Idid a bit more research. Please check his URL: http://www.geocities.com/das_ragu/. Such a deceptive one. He talks of yoga, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Krishna - all Hindu Gods. Anyone reading it will think it is a Hindu outfit. No mention of Ananda Marga anywhere. Look at the address in the URL. It is the address of the Los Altos Ananda Marga Unit. The same one in the classified ad. http://www.sulekha.com/classifieds/classifiedsdisplay.asp?cid=36845 I also checked with the local temples and local Indian stores in the Bay Area. I understand that he was dismissed from Livermore Temple, where he was working - reasons unknown and not hard to guess I suppose. He showed up at Sunnyvale Temple for giving Yoga classes, but mysteriously dissappeared after one or two classes. He has been approaching some stores to put up his advertisements. One store in East Bay actually helped him conduct some classes. But again this guy performed a dissapearing act. I called up the Los Altos Ananda Marga number, not the number on his website and classified ad. It appears as though his is the most important member of that unit.They confirmed that he is a regular visitor to the unit on Sundays, Mondays and some times on Wednesday/Thursdays also. He conducts yoga classes in the premises. From my conversation it appeared as though he is the only public face of Ananda Marga in Bay Area. I understand that he also conducts classes in the name of Ananda Marga in San Jose State University, Stanford University and UC Berkeley, in the name of Ananda Marga Yoga Club. All the above contradicts what you have written about restrictions imposed on him by Ananda Marga which leads me to several conclusions the foremost being that like the Catholic church the sexual misconduct runs deep in the Ananda Marga and people in the hierarchy who have similar skeletons in their cupboard are shielding him. Anyhow, my quest for a yoga instructor is over. I wanted to add my two cents to help the readers of the forum be aware of sexual predators from Ananda Marga, especially in San Francisco Bay Area. I wish this information be known to all, especially in the universities like UCB and Stanford - God protect my daughter who is well on course to attend UC Berkeley or UC Davis next year. | ||
| Objective Margii |
I am truly mystified as to why the Bay Area unit would allow this individual to be a public face to Ananda Marga. Perhaps it is a small unit of equally wacky people. What is really disturbing is that the NY Central Office (the authority of AM in USA) would allow this to go on. There is no excuse for that. As I have said repeatedly, the organization is pretty screwed up, and there are plenty of unscrupulous characters. I would not be surprised to learn that sexual misconduct is common in AM, and yet I have been around the organization for 15 years and have only heard of a few isolated incidents. Could I be so sheilded from a pervasive problem like that? I've certainly heard about many other equally damaging and adharmic activities over the years. I would hesitate to confirm your extrapolation that because this one activity is occuring, that the problem is therefor widespread. What can I say - I can only answer to what is commonly known as the ideology and practices of Ananda Marga, and what unsavory activities are commonly occuring that I (as a 15 year Margii) am aware of. | ||
| Anonymous |
If you are a conscientious Ananda Margii why don't you alert the people in your NY Central office about what is happening in the Bay Area ? A URL redirection of this forum should probably do. | ||
| Objective Margii |
Your suggestion makes perfect sense. I should do that. Somehow, though, I doubt that it will have any impact. It's hard for me to imagine that the NY central authorities are unaware of this activity, or that they would be effectual in changing the situation even if I brought it to their attention. They probably just like that new people are coming in to Ananda Marga, and don't care that it is by the hand of this lunatic. Maybe it will mean that some acharya gets to chalk up another couple of initiations on his record, so he will meet his quota and perhaps get some reward like a higher position in the organization. I don't know about all the claims of "brainwashing" that have been made on this forum, but Ananda Marga certainly is into recruitment. Like most groups, they feel that their way is the best way, so everyone should join the "best way". Many I think feel its the "only way" - much like the christians believe. But getting back to my original point - you're right, I should report the situation in CA, even if it is ignored, at least I have done the right thing for my own personal integrity (something that all margiis should be concerned about these days). Thank you. | ||
| Anonymous |
It looks Bay area has one of the most unscrupulous margi acused of sexual misconduct and he is continuing to teach yoga,DC's. I agree with you that ananda marga doesnt care about the character of a person..all it cares is how many he has recruited.Catholic churches have paid compensation to victims. I think it is time all those victimised by this person need to sue him and the organisation. | ||
| Concerned Margi |
To differentiate myself from the Anonymous crowd and to identify myself with Objective Margii, I am giving myself a name. I find it very sad that Ananda Marga is being slandered in a public forum like this because of a few immoral individuals. I agree with Objective Margii that this should be reported to the NY Sector Disciplinary committe. The last thing a cash strapped organization like AM needs is costly litigation. If the oriental Dadas do not understand the implications, some of us here have to take the lead and explain to them. This will lead us to a lot of bad publicity and potential ruin. BNK | ||
| Objective Margii |
You know, I am trying to think of a way to report the situation in CA anonymously, but I'm not sure how to go about doing it. If I use my email account, they will know for sure who I am. Even if I send it via snail mail, the postage mark will identify my city, which narrows the field considerably. The reason I want to be anonymous is that for all I know, the NY authorities may be watching this forum and in that case would not appreciate many of my comments here. I'd rather not have to deal with the potential fallout from that. While I typically don't care much what those people think of me, I don't want to burn my bridge to Ananda Marga completely. Is there anyone else on this forum, who may not be a Margii at all, who would be willing to report this? Otherwise, does anyone have any ideas of how I could do it anonymously? | ||
| Anonymous |
Sure I am willing to do. To whom do I report to ? On an accidental search I found this forum and with some leads from you, I have avoided this guy as my Yoga Instructor. I want to help in any way I can to stop such unscruplous guys from entering august educational institutions like UCB, Stanford, CAL State etc. Please let me know. You can email details to Alex3@supernetpower.com | ||
| Objective Margii |
Thank you for your assistance Alex; you can send an email to ananda@amps.org In the email I suggest you give the url's listed in the posting (from this forum) on 10/16/03, in addition to a description of the concerns people have expressed about this individual. You could just copy and paste some of the comments (and the url's) directly into your email. Hopefully that will do the trick. If you have the time, I'm sure people on this forum would be interested to hear whether or not you get a response, and if so, what that response was. Perhaps some time from now, I will check to see if he is still operating out of the jagrti in Los Altos. Thanks again, you're truly providing a service to the community. | ||
| Concerned Margi |
One or two people may suppress the whole thing. This should be e-mailed to multiple people in the organization. Here are some more e-mail IDs: aatandra@yahoo.com ananda@amps.org, vimalananda@anandamarga.net sos@nys.amps.org IKDada@yahoo.com, anandavibha@yahoo.com, Go for it Alex!! | ||
| Anonymous |
My contacts reveal 100% that this unscrupulous guy is still operating out of Jagriti, CA. He is active teaching yoga at Jagriti. I beleive the los altos unit knows about it all but is keeping him under cover. Who else can seduce young adults into ananda marga any better than this guy ?? He goes to any length by hook or crook. He is like a leech in the bay area. Talks about yama niyama without morale. Perhaps all margis are the same at the end of the day. Brainwashed, mentally imbalanced indiv. | ||
| Objective Margii |
Aieyiyi - more with the brainwashing. "Perhaps all margis are the same at the end of the day. Brainwashed, mentally imbalanced indiv." ??? How much creedence do you think rational people give to sweeping generalizations like that? But then again, I suppose there are some people on this forum who aren't exactly "rational". The fact that Arnold Shwarzenegger has been elected as the governor of CA is a good indication that the average American does not have very good powers of discernment. Have you looked into the meaning of the word "brainwashing", and how it is applied by "cult experts" and "deprogrammers". Are all muslims, jews and Christians "brainwashed"? Are all consumers who buy Nike products "brainwashed"? It depends on your definition of the word. Maybe so. People are throwing that term around pretty loosely around here, and I'm not so sure that they have a clear understanding of what it means. I'd like to see some of you people who are accusing Ananda Marga of "brainwashing" to clearly define the word and tell us all how it applies in the context of Ananda Marga. Instead of just name-calling, please back up your claims with some tangeable evidence. I'm open to hearing it, and if you make a good case, then I won't deny it. But thus far, nobody has convinced me that AM engages in "brainwashing". | ||
| Objective Margii |
Here is some information I found about cults on college campuses. Ananda Marga recruits new members at colleges quite a bit, so I thought it would be relevant: The following steps are recommended by experts at New York University for people who just don't feel right about a group they've met on campus: Ask yourself: *What commitment of time, money and other resources are expected from you? *Would I be assigned recruiting or financial quotas? *Is associating with family and friends discouraged? *What benefits will I gain from being a member of this group? How do these benefits fit with my own goals and ideas? Does the group: *Encourage you to continue your studies, to succeed academically, and to graduate, or does the group say that its activities are more important than school? *Answer the questions that you ask, or are you told repeatedly that the answers will come later? *Discourage discussion of its beliefs, either with other members or with your family or friends? *Want its members to give up traditions and beliefs? *Require absolute obedience and devotion to its leaders? *Allow members to have quiet times alone, or time with other friends outside the group? *Predict tragedy will befall anyone who leaves the group? OK, so how many of these points are features of Ananda Marga? The only ones that resonate with me at all are: "absolute obedience and devotion to it's leaders" - In the case of AM, the only leader that commands this kind of obedience and devotion is the guru, who is now dead (of course margiis love to say "Baba said..." to justify anything they think you should or should not do). The other one is "want its members to give up traditions and beliefs". Of course if you believe that Jesus is the only true messiah, AM will want you to change that belief to be that Anandamurtii is the only true messiah. If you celebrate Christmas, nobody will tell you not to, but you may get "poo-pooed" for having such frivolous, materialistic, misguided, etc, traditions. (These are not my belief/practices, by the way, just common margii stuff). | ||
| Anonymous |
Hi, I am a university student in California. I was approached recently by certain staff members of the University to start a student Ananda Marga Yoga Club in the University. I picked up some of the names on the literature they gave me and searched on the Internet. Luckily, I found this message board. I was shocked to see the information here and immediately stopped further activity on the club. In no time I see other students being approached with the following announcement: "We would like to let you know we have the best instructors to part FREE education on the following areas to all students, staff and community on compus activity viz. 1. Yoga for total health 2. Meditation for elevation of consciousness 3. Food for thought and Fasting for clensing the system 4. Ethics for all for peace and prospertiy Please forward and post the FREE yoga on campus" Please note that there is no mention of Ananda Marga in the revised announcement. Also see the subtle usage of phrases like FREE Education and FREE Yoga. What ethics are they talking about? | ||
| Objective Margii |
Regarding ethics: they are talking about a common set of yogic ethics known as "Yama and Niyama". If you search the internet with those words you will likely find a definition. This ethics system is not specific to Ananda Marga, but has been adopted by them as it is a generally accepted yogic conceptualization of morality. | ||
| Anonymous |
Can you comment about the deception they are using to lure students into Ananda Marga? You have conveniently commented only on the last part. | ||
| Concerned Margi |
Namaskar, I am getting sick and disgusted with the slandering of Ananda Marga by all and sundry, all because of a deviant margii. As suggested by someone in a 10th October posting, why can't this guy clear himself of all this allegations once and for all by providing valid evidence of his innocence - assuming he is innocent. What is he afraid of ? All his friends and I am sure some of them are certainly in the legal community can definitely help him,by free legal counselling as well as money to clear his reputation. Common guys wake up!! Don't let the entire Ananda Marga be hauled over coals for one guy. BNK | ||
| Objective Margii |
I agree with Concerned Margii that there are a few bad apples in Ananda Marga (AM), and the whole organization should not be judged based on them. But I also have to acknowledge that there are certain common practices that I have personally witnessed more than once that are deceptive. Yoga classes at universities are often labeled as "University Yoga Club" or some other benign name, when in actuality they are AM recruiting forums. Having said that, I will reitterate something I've said earlier (see 10/9/03 posting) which is that most instructors really don't expect many new members from these classes, and offer them as a social service to expose people to yoga in general. Now, if some should become interested in AM, then great, that's also part of their goal. Also, when new people come into AM, certain information is withheld until they are "ready" to hear it (ie: Anandamurtii is God incarnate, etc.) Cult experts consider this a manipulative cult technique. I think margiis do this stuff with good intentions, thinking that they don't want to scare people off before they really understand and experience the benefits of AM. A lot of AM stuff is pretty foriegn and freaky to your basic mainstream dude, so they give it to them gradually so as not to overwhelm them. But it is still a deliberate manipulation designed to retain members and gradually introduce an ideology that many people would reject if they were to get it all at once. | ||
| Anonymous |
my question is to objective margi:how were you recruited into this? | ||
| Anonymous |
Those students who have been wondering about the true identity of "Liz" in the e-mails/flyers you have been recieving off late, here it is < Deleted by Admin > | ||
| Objective Margii |
I was already doing Zen meditation that I had discovered in talking to people and reading books about it. I then met a professor at my university who was a margii. He brought an acharya in to our class to talk about some topic that was relevant to the class. I was intrigued by this acharya as he seemed to have a very special vibe about him, so when I heard that he was a meditation teacher, I made an appointment with him and got initiated into AM (ie: recieved my first meditation lesson, and some yoga postures were prescribed). After that I was invited to attend a seminar or group meditation event, and then yadda yadda, here I am 15 years later - a firm believer in the yogic path and techniques, but completely disaffected with the organization. My motive for participating on this list is that I have been in the process of re-evaluating my relationship with AM. Events that have played out over recent years have caused me to step back and take an objective look at the organization, ideology and practices of AM. I have now dispensed with several dogmas (in my opinion) which are part of the ideology, and am still trying to figure out how I will move forward in the social sphere. There are a few group activities of AM that I truly enjoy and benefit from, but there are many aspects of the organization I find unacceptable. So back to my motive. This forum has been helpful for me to sort out my own perceptions of AM. It has also been useful to hear some of the more realistic accusations people have made - the ones that have some grain of truth. These have proven very useful tools for reflection. An example is the current thread on "brainwashing". I'm still not convinced that AM practices "brainwashing" as I define the term, but I'm open to hearing more evidence. I would not necessarily doubt the assertion, but nobody has convinced me of it yet either. I would be interested to hear what other people's motives are who are part of this discussion. A little honesty perhaps wouldn't hurt anyone. I think it would also be helpful if repeated posters would pick a pseudonym so you have some sort of identity out here. | ||
| Objective Margii |
OK, anyone who wants to honestly discuss whether or not AM is a "destructive cult" or engages in "brainwashing" can go to the following link to research what these terms really mean: http://www.csj.org/studyindex/studycult/study_whatisdescult.htm I'd be interested to hear what comments you all have based on the information at the above website. | ||
| Objective Margii |
Since I only have experience with two spiritual/religious groups (Catholicism and Ananda Marga), I decided to do a comparison. My wife, who also has the same history went through the list with me so we could bounce ideas off each other and try to have more than one opinion represented. So the following is our results: Category: Ananda Marga (AM), Catholicism (Cath) Authoritarian: AM-yes, Cath-yes Messianic: AM-yes, Cath-yes Deception: AM-yes, Cath-no Isolation: AM-no, Cath-no Mind Control -- (see below) Mileu control: AM-no, Cath-no Mystical manipulation: AM-maybe, Cath-yes Demand for purity: AM-maybe, Cath-yes Confession: AM-no, Cath-no Sacred science: AM-yes, Cath-yes Loading the language: AM-yes, Cath-yes (we thought this was a stupid category; everyone has jargon) Doctrine over person: AM-maybe, Cath-maybe Dispensing w/existence: AM-maybe, Cath-yes So Ananda Marga gets 5 yes, 4 maybe, 3 no Catholicism gets 7 yes, 1 maybe, 4 no Looks like in our opinion, the cult criteria listed by the experts would apply as much to catholics as is would to margiis. Interesting... | ||
| Anonymous |
Are you talking of just your experience objective marji? When you rated isolation does it imply isolation from family members? from friends..I will give ananda marga a strong yes on this.This is my experience with my friend very recently. Isolating from family,existing friends being secretive about the whole thing till mind is reloaded is a common practice i guess. What is Mileu control? What are those maybe's . 15 yrs of existence and you are not sure? Is Ananda marga a religion? Why are you comparing with catholicism (catholic )all the time. | ||
| Anonymous |
I am impressed by your frankness. Based on some of your own writings and evaluation of Ananda Marga prior to your last posting,don't you think AM should get a resounding yes for Doctrine over person and a yes for Mystical Manipulation and Demand for purity. You claim to be objective and so far you have been. Relate your comments on the several happening in Ananda Marga USA over the past year. Trashing Catholicism does not make Ananda Marga great anyway. You seem to be up against Catholics as your in-laws are Catholic and you are under an impression that a group of Catholics are challenging you in this forum. | ||
| Anonymous |
I have confirmed information that the Bay Area margii banned from attending DCs does not attend DCs at Los Altos Jagriti, but attends DCs at Oakland Jagriti. He also attends DCs held at houses of individual margiis. Is there any loophole which he is exploiting? Can Dadas attend DCs at Didi run Jagritis? | ||
| Objective Margii |
I did my ratings based on my own experience. Some people may become isolated if that it their tendency I suppose. I think the isolation and secretiveness evolves as a result of family or friends not respecting your spiritual path. We are not at all secretive with my parents because they respect what we do, or at least do not actively disrespect it. With my wife's family, we are more or less likely to discuss our spirituality with various members depending on their attitude towards it. Some of them are so dogmatic in their own religious beliefs that we just can't talk to them about it. We marked some things as "maybe" not because we weren't sure about AM, but more because the category itself was not well defined; or in some cases AM met one criteria but not another within the same category. The reason I keep bringing up Catholicism is two-fold. Number one, as I mentioned earlier, it is really my only basis of comparison in my own life experience. Number two, it is a mainstream religion that never gets questioned as being at all cult-like, simply because it is so popular. I see a double standard here, why is AM viewed by some as a destructive cult, and yet Christianity has many of the same characteristics, and yet everyone seems to be OK with it." It really just provides and interesting counterpoint to put things in perspective. I'll write more tomorrow, but I've got to get the kids to bed right now. later... | ||
| Objective Margii |
OK, I'll say a few things more, since I was rushed last night. AM is a very distinct and unique lifestyle, involving many idiosyncratic and unusual practices in every sphere of life. If you were to live this lifestyle "by the book" you would certainly be viewed as eccentric at the very least by others in society. I think people who get really dogmatic about AM may have a greater tendency to isolate themselves. Despite all that though, it seems like most margiis I know have a range of friends and family contacts that have been undisturbed by involvement in AM. Perhaps the margiis I choose to associate with are the ones, like myself, who are not so dogmatic, and take certain practices and AM "social norms" with a grain of salt. As to whether AM is a religion, most margiis and all acharyas (AM monks) will adamently say "no". I'm not so sure. Again, it all depends on how you define "religion". I would not deny that it is a religion. I'm really not sure what "mileu control" is. It sounds like something that would only apply if there was a communal living situation. While AM aspires to create these, there are only a few in existence, and for the most part they are very small except for the one in India (which is practically a war zone at this time). Regarding "doctrine over person", yes there is a lot of truth to that one. I guess the description was a little more intense than my experience in AM would dictate. But I could easily see how other margiis would rate it a strong "yes". Re: "mystical manipulation", yes again there is some truth to that one, but although there is an implication that AM is the only true path, there is no outright statement of such. Also, AM acknowleges several saints and mystics as truly enlightened who have or had no relation to AM, and therefor there is an acknowlegement that there are other paths to salvation. Re: "demand for purity", again part of the definition applies. There is a strong pressure to conform to group norms, and emotional manipulation is used in an attempt to make people follow the letter of AM law. But I don't see the black & white, good vs evil distinction. I don't think margiis feel that everything outside the group is evil and they are the only good in the world. Re: the crazy guy in CA, I really don't have much detailed knowledge about the situation, so I'll let someone else speak to that. The only thing I know is that he was not allowed to attend the past few summer retreats in MO, and there was an unsuccessful lobby from some people in CA to overturn that decision. I don't know what goes on at his local level, or what the AM authorities do about it. Re: the events over the past year in the USA, I'm not sure how to address that. There are various factions grappling for control of the organization and it's resources. This war is mainly based in India, but also battles play out in the USA. The war in India is full scale war, including physical fighting and deaths. The battles in the USA are psychological and social battles for the loyalties of the margiis. Each faction bends the ideology to suit their needs, and makes their case that they are truly the virtuous ones, and the other factions are just evil-doers trying to destroy "Baba's mission". I guess this would be an example of "demand for purity" at work, but really it's mainly just Indian-style politics and mob mentality, with AM ideology thrown into the mix. I'd like to hear more from others about the ways in which AM meets or fails to meet the "destructive, mind-control" cult criteria. | ||
| Anonymous |
I am in the process of understanding what Ananda Marga stands for and you have been patiently highlighting both the good and bad aspects of Ananada Marga in a very objective manner. I have taken some excerpts from your postings above and require clarifications. AM is a very distinct and unique lifestyle, involving many idiosyncratic and unusual practices in every sphere of life. If you were to live this lifestyle "by the book" you would certainly be viewed as eccentric at the very least by others in society.- PLEASE HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE UNUSUAL PRACTICES FOLLOWED, IN YOUR PERSPECTIVE, IF YOU "LIVE BY THE BOOK" I think people who get really dogmatic about AM may have a greater tendency to isolate themselves -IF THE SOCIETY VIEWS SUCH PEOPLE AS ECCENTRIC, IS IT THE SOCIETY's FAULT OR THE INDIVIDUALS FAULT. AM acknowleges several saints and mystics as truly enlightened who have or had no relation to AM - PLEASE NAME A FEW. There is a strong pressure to conform to group norms, and emotional manipulation is used in an attempt to make people follow the letter of AM law. - WHAT TYPE OF EMOTIONAL MANIPULATION? IS IT ANOTHER TERM FOR BRAIN WASHING? | ||
| Objective Margii |
Many of the "eccentric" behaviors are very "Indian" cultural behaviors that seem bizarre when displayed by a westerner. Having a sanskrit name, for instance. Or greeting each other with "namaskar" and the accompanying gesture. Other things include always using your right hand and touching your right elbow with your left fingertips when offering something to someone, snapping your fingers in front of your mouth when yawning. I could go on and on with the odd little behaviors. Anandamurtii created a set of 40 "conduct rules" that govern human interactions. I won't list them all here, but I think you get the idea. I don't know who's fault it is when isolation patterns emerge. I think it is mainly a result of practicing something that is viewed as strange by society. Nobody wants to be viewed as "strange", and so you become somewhat secretive about your strangeness so you won't be ostricized. Of course the end result of this secretiveness may be that you become more reclusive and thus isolated. My experience has been that I have mainly practiced the more eccentric behaviors only around margiis. The problem with this is it creates duality in your life. You have your sanskrit name, and your "lokik" or given name. In some circumstances you are not sure which one to use in introducing yourself. After a while you find that you have created a whole other identity for yourself as a "margii", and you can only show certain aspects of that identity to the general society unless you want to be viewed as a "strange" person. Heck, I used to be a hippie type person in my youth, and wasn't afraid to let my "freak flag" fly. But once you have a regular job, kids, etc., and you need to maintain a certain image in the society, it becomes less and less acceptable and practical to be "freaky". Regarding the specific saints that are acknowledged as spiritually elevated, I am not the best person to answer that question. I have heard various names come up in stories told by acharyas, but I don't remember them. There are at least 3 or 4 that get frequent mention in Ananda Marga circles. I'm bad at remembering names. I know the poet Rabindranath Tagor is given high praise, and perhaps someone named Chaitanya Mahaprobhu (sp)?? I'm not sure - someone help me out here... I think "brainwashing" is described as the total of several criteria listed under the "mind control" category from the website I referenced on 10/22/03. What I was referring to as "manipulation" is just making people feel somehow spiritually inferior if they are not doing all the things a "good margii" should do. How this plays out specifically I'm sure varies from one situation to the next. I just have a general sense that this dynamic plays out frequently in AM. | ||
| Anonymous |
MORE FROM THE CRAZY GUY OF BAY AREA MARGII - IN THE NAME OF YOGA Copied below are excerpts from one of the letter written by the crazy guy to a young girl friend of mine. Is this the culture of Ananda Marga? Is this the way young students are seduced by the Ananda Margiis? Dear Padma ja kshi (Lotus eyed), Can I give you a one ring to remind to awaken your deep slumber sleeping beauty ???? How are you? I will be off this Friday and Saturday so you can talk to me all the night and day…ha….ha….ha….. Am I too much attached to you or do I jeopardize your comfort zone? If I train you then you will be like a newborn star of mine to fly in this blue sky like a princess of star of stars. you have the blessings and Great Guru and so I fear hell often virtually as if virginity being lost in the innocence of grace and beauty. Your voice so full of love and affection commands me to adore you above all the beings and to make you tick anything thou wish like a wishful tree of blessings. I am like you and as I go along I become too teenager kind and full of energy bubbling and overflowing…Hi…hie. Can I trust you? What are you after any way? Could I be your coach? Am I that good? Am I crazy? What is happening to me. You are good so I don’t have to worry. You are great but you can be greater and better and be the best. Eagerly awaiting with 1000 eyes, oh Lotus eyed one! You are a star of stars. A super star . My star. Padma ja Star. Ne , Padamaja Ranii (the worrior queen). You are one of a kind please do not share my literature with any one it is for you and you only and none. Options to stay before you fly ! 1.You can rent Hidden Villa youth hostel for a meager amount…which is next to .. with a vast hike trails..lovely 2.get you in to Hotel 3.If you have any other plan to fulfill!!!!!!!! 4.Buy a tent and be by the beach and sleep over Give me your impressions and concerns and plans which retreat you are going??????? Yours truly, one and only one ... for you .... which you like!!! (EDITED TO AVOID MORE EXPLICIT AND OBSCENE LANGUAGE) | ||
| Objective Margii |
As you yourself wrote, he is crazy - what more needs to be said? I think we have already established that one crazy guy does not imply that the entire organization behaves the same way. In any large group you will have at least one crazy guy. Hopefully our friend Alex has reported the situation, and unless someone has a new solution to offer, I suggest we move on. | ||
| Anonymous |
Look at what the crazy margii was doing while he was busy doing pracar work for Ananda Marga and teaching yoga at Ananda Marga premises. Should Ananda Marga continue to entertain this guy? Should any respectable parent(including margiis) allow this guy into their homes? Now that he is exposed see how quickly(within hours) he tried to cover his tracks by unsubscribing to the activities he was engaged in. His Baba will know how many more such accounts are there which he uses in non-office hours. Pardon me for posting such stuff on this forum. I got courage from the frank postings of others on this website. As a colleague at work, I was scared after reading about Ananda Marga in this forum, I may be victimized by this individual as well as the organization. But finally I answered to the dictates of my conscience. ACTION To: padma...@yahoo.com Subject: Congratulations & Welcome To freeblondeezine.com From: support@freeblondeezine.com Date: Thu, 09 Oct 2003 07:12:55 -0500 Welcome to freeblondeezine.com, Please keep this email for your records. It contains your info for accessing the members area. Your Username is: padma...@yahoo.com Your Password is: ..... Your Members Area is Located at.. http://www.freeblondeezine.com/members/ We hope you enjoy your membership to our website. Keep your eyes open for new and exciting content soon to be released. If you need some help or lose your password, visit our support page at: http://www.freeblondeezine.com/support/ Thank you! - support@freeblondeezine.com REACTION To: padma...@yahoo.com Subject: You're Un-subscribed, Good Bye! From: support@freeblondeezine.com Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2003 07:22:30 -0500 Hello, This email is to inform you that your email address padma...@yahoo.com has successfully been removed from our database. To subscribe again please visit our website: http://www.freeblondeezine.com/ We hope you've enjoyed your membership to our website. Thank you! - support@freeblondeezine.com ACTUAL E-MAIL ID and PASSWORD edited. | ||
| Objective Margii |
Ahhh, now I understand. You work with this guy! No wonder you've been so focused on this issue. Well then perhaps you can update us on whether or not his activities continue now that (I assume) someone has reported it to the AM authorities. We haven't heard back from Alex, so there is no way to know for sure that it was reported. If anyone else would like to report it, I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to have more than one person send in the information. I think we could all rest easier if someone would report it and the let us all know that this has occured. Then we can wait to see what reaction is forthcoming from the AM authorities. That will be the best indication of where the organization at large stands on this topic. | ||
| Anonymous |
Thank You!! Thank you colleague. You have saved a lot of students from Stanford, UC Berkeley, CAL Hayward San Jose State University and all other colleges/community colleges like Ohlone and De Anza from being exposed to this guy. I wish someone could circulate the above information to all the college campuses, Indian stores and temples in Bay Area. I never imagined that my search for a yoga teacher would end up exposing this guy and hopefully make the colleges safer for my daughter next year. A big thank you for all the people who sent in valuable information in a timely maner. | ||
| Anonymous |
For the benefit of those who may not have the patience to go through all the previous postings(starrting around 8/9th October 2003) I have selectively cut and paste some URLs and some key information. Please read the postings in the past two days at least to get a full picture of the situation. http://www.geocities.com/das_ragu/. http://www.sulekha.com/classifieds/classifiedsdisplay.asp?cid=36845 "I am pleased with the meeting last week. Now dada wants to know, on what charges i have been convicted and he says to resolve. I told that i dont have to incriminate any information and that any information , they can use against me on, and that people are cruel and it will be digging my grave. But he inisted upon the charge and to get from the court is too much for me to be asked." | ||
| Objective Margii |
Wait a minute... I'm not sure that we have verified whether or not this situation has been reported. Can someone please confirm that they have sent the info to the AM authorities? Thanks | ||
| ananda margii |
Namaskar, From some of the discussions on this board so far it seems that there is concern that one or more persons may or may not be qualified to represent Ananda Marga or teach yoga/meditation classes at Ananda Marga jagritis (centers), university campuses, etc. The department of Ananda Marga, which is authorized to certify individual teachers of Ananda Marga yoga/meditation classes is called "Dharma Pracar". Furthermore, this department is authorized to register, guide and monitor the activties of local Ananda Marga "Units" or chapters, e.g. Ananda Marga Los Altos. Any person who purports to represent Ananda Marga in classified ads, leaflets, posters and/or defacto associates themselves with Ananda Marga centers by listing their address, phone, etc. in personal or public promotions should rightly be investigated to ascertain whether they have been certified to do so by the above-mentioned department and not simply by a fellow margii, friend or associate. One may find out more about Ananda Marga Unit Registration and Teaching Certfication by contacting: Dharma Pracar Secretary Ananda Marga, Inc. 97-38 42nd Ave Suite 1F Corona, NY, 11368 Tel: 718-898-1603 Email: ananda@amps.org | ||
| Turiiya |
A'nanda Ma'rga Praca'raka Sam'gha (praca'ra = propagation; sam'gha = association) was founded in Jamalpur, Bihar, India in 1955 by the Guru, Sri Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar (a.k.a. Shrii Shrii Anandamurti), affectionately known as Baba. For the first 6 years Ananda Marga was propagated by grhi (family) acaryas (teachers), both male and female, trained and authorized by Baba. All of these grhi acaryas had regular jobs or families to take care of and simply volunteered their free time on evenings and weekends to give classes and initiations. By 1961, the Ananda Marga activities and membership body had grown tremendously around India to the point, when Baba decided it was time that an order of sannyasis be created to devote their whole lives to the missionary work of teaching meditation, running schools, homes, and conducting relief activities. In this regard it was announced that margiis and then grhi acaryas could come forward to become avadhutas (monks) and later, in 1962, avadhutikas (nuns). In the cases where a married person wishes to become a sannyasi of Ananda Marga, there is a rule that permission must first be obtained from his/her spouse before they can enter the training. There was a good deal of enthusiasm amongst some members to step forth on this path. I will relate one story: One father, who was already serving as a grhi (family) acarya, approached Baba to become an avadhuta. It so happened that his son also came forward. The wife/mother was concerned by this predicament so she approached Baba and said: "You can have one, either father or son, but not both". Baba affectionately agreed as said "Let the father come, with your permission, and the son should stay" -- to help his mother and raise his own family. The father who came forward at that time is now serving as "Purodha Pramukha" or spiritual head of Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha after the physical departure of Guru, Shrii Shrii Anandamurti in 1990. | ||
| Concerned Margii |
Namaskar, On October 10th I wrote, "lets get rid of unsavoury elements in our group, lets get open and get our publicity right" I am not repeating all the posting. Let us put our best foot forward. Let us allow use of publicity material cleared by the Dharma Pracar secretary and that too only by authorized and credible individuals. It is better we have less number of new recruits, who really embrace AM with full conviction, than have the gullible immature individuals lured by self-promoting, unauthorized persons in the name of AM. I think we should evaluate yoga/meditation teachers by the number of converts who remain in AM after 5 years than simply by the number of individuals "initiated" into AM. AM should also think of involving the parents of the university students and initiate the students only after a senior Avadhuta makes a reasonable attempt to convince the parents. Let us admit it, 18 is too young an age for a student to make a rational decision on spiritual matters. Or let us raise the age bar for AM purpose - say 25, leave alone the legal age. At 25 an individual will most probably be out of college, having an income of his/her own, matured enough to take their own decisions. This will stop the slander camapign of irate parents who feel cheated that AM has taken away their children in their prime. AM will have lesser Margiis, but ones who will have courage and conviction to carry Baba's message forward. In the best interests of AM all the allegations listed in this forum should be properly investigated and the results posted on this forum to enable everyone to see the transparency of AM. Common guys in California - with a humongous disaster in your backdoor, there are better things to do in the name of Baba BNK | ||
| Anonymous |
To Dharma Pracar Secretary Ananda Marga, Inc. Very good to hear that you have an authorization procedure in place. Did you authorize the following flyer ? YOGA Healing Powers of Yoga for total Health 27160 Moody Rd, LA Hills, CA 94022 (Tel: 650-948-2865) www.geocities.com/das_ragu (1) Warm up Stretching with Ananda Marga’s, Shrii.Shrii. Anandamurti’s Kaoshiki’s 18 Dance Steps ( An Anti-dote for 22 diseases), Correct Breathing, Basic Yoga Postures, Shiva’s Tandava Dance, Massage, Deep Relaxation (2) Meditation for Peace & Elevation of Consciousness (3) Food for thought, Diet, Fasting (4) Ethics for all (5) Universal Mantra Chanting ( Baba Nam Kevalam - Love is all there Is or thou art the only most beloved) Walk-ins, Donations Welcome. Call Yoga Meditation Master Instructor, Das Ragu am_yoga@yahoo.com (425) 663-3489-efax (925) 980-0077 | ||
| Anonymous |
Turiiya This is strange. Absolutely no mention of the mass killings by your affectionate guru of anyone who disagreed with him.... | ||
| Turiiya |
Let me state categorically that the Guru of Ananda Marga never committed nor authorized any such mass killings as alleged by "anonymous". But for the sake of others it might be good to look at some background history of Ananda Marga and Indian history over the last decades, history, perhaps which even one or more of the "anonymous" writer(s) has some connection with himself/herself. I do not presume to be the final authority on these matters -- others are welcome to comment. From the founding of Ananda Marga in 1955, the Guru, PRSarkar/Anandamurti/Baba had given the members various guidelines -- both personal and organizational. The Hindu caste system was not supported at all -- membership of caste is to be renounced at time of initiation. For example a Brahmin male is to remove his sacred thread and cut his top-knot of hair (if present); arranged marriages of same caste are discouraged, as is giving/receiving dowry in marriage. In his workplace as an accountant at Jamalpur Railway Workshop, he was well-respected and known by fellow employees and supervisors alike to never support bribe taking or corruption, which is quite common in all walks of life in Indian public and private services, business, police, judiciary, etc. till the present day. In 1959 he launched a socio-economic theory and movement called PROUT (Progressive Utilization Theory), emphasising the need to include spiritual values in the economy and was criticised by capitalists and communists alike. As the mission grew in the 1960's many college students around India but especially in West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh states in the north, chose to join Ananda Marga and/or Prout movement instead of traditional politics or more radical Marxist factions, which were prevalent on university campuses. In this way the Ananda Marga movement garnered opposition, sometimes violent, from orthodox Hindus, exploiting capitalists, all flavours of communists and corrupt officials, who embodied one or more of the aforementioned outlooks. The post-independence government from Nehru onwards was also suspicious of PR Sarkar as he advocated "economic independence" as a pre-requisite for successful political independence, citing the failure of the Congress regime under Nehru and others to carry out that mandate and instead simply take over the charge from the British in colonial manners and bumbling socialist planning. His daughter, Indira Gandhi, carried on that tradition and, perhaps regrettably under pressure of international politics (of which the United States and other former colonial powers are not blameless) was obliged or chose freely to ally India with the Soviet Union, economically and militarily. The Soviets, too, were wary of the progressive ideas of Ananda Marga and Prout and, from the late '60's onwards, directly and along with the proxy support of the various flavors of Communist Parties inside India, began exerting much pressure on Indira regime to harass and suppress Ananda Marga at every opportunity. Various arms of the Indian Government were pressed into service, including the local/state police as well as the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation). It would later be found that during the most extreme phase of persecution in the 1970's, the KGB had participated directly in tortuous interrogation and/or trained their Indian counterparts to do the same, but I am getting a bit ahead of myself. By no means did or does Ananda Marga claim to be the only movement, which was/is working for progressive social change in India. There were/are other like-minded groups and NGOs -- religious, social, political -- which were/are agitating for reform on various fronts from social service to radical politics. However Ananda Marga was quite effective in uniting a dharmic spiritual element to that, both inside and outside of India. The history goes back even before political independence. On the left the various communist factions took orders from Moscow and later, Peking in often sitting on their hands during WWII and tacitly supporting the colonial position. Congress Party (of Nehru, M.K.Gandhi, etc) split, with a more energetic leader, Subhas Chandra Bose (born in Orissa of Bengali origin) took a stronger position to oppose the British rule by allying with the Axis powers to gain support for the Indian National Army to physically attack the British in India during WWII. Though ridiculed by the West and Nehru faction, S.C. Bose is still well-loved as a hero by many Indians all over -- especially in Bengal. After independence the most radical Marxist factions called "naxalites" shocked even their more modern communist brethren by launching violent lynchings and mass killings of government officials, social and business leaders of the "ruling classes". This was focused much in the northern, eastern and some southern states of India from Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Orissa, to Andra Pradesh in the south. This violence and murder was widespread and as brutal and was later copied on an even greater scale by the Khmer Rouge in the "killing fields" of Kampuchea (Cambodia). Naxalites were hunted, arrested and imprisoned throughout the '60's and '70's. Their leaders were not necessarily peasant proletarians but often hailed from leading Brahmin and other families of India. Many Indian families in the north and south can count some of their own close friends and relatives in the high ranks of the brutal murderous naxalites or their more subdued ideological counterparts in various communist factions. Perhaps even some writers to this message board can claim this dubious "honour"? On the right side of the political Indian political spectrum lie the Hindu nationalists and their multiple front organizations -- today the ruling coalition is headed by the currently named, BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) -- other notable/notorious branches include the "cultural" movement called (RSS) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which is provides the organising discipline and muscle behind their movement. They became known, when some of their "former" members assassinated Mahatma Gandhi to protest the partition of India and Pakistan. Other recent incidents include alleged incitement to bomb the mosque in the mythological birthplace of Lord Ram in Ayodhya, India. Even the current Home Minister of India was charge-sheeted in that affair, till being cleared by the courts recently. Various sympathetic individuals and gangs have been have been systematically harassing Muslim communities and Christian priests, nuns, and missionaries --creating a horrific climate of brutal murder of a foreign missionary family in Orissa by the recently convicted Dara Singh, a "hero" to many. Please forgive me for going to so much detail but these various elements have come together to forge the situation in the last decades in India, where Ananda Marga movement took its birth and growth. By the early '70s the government and communists alike tried to infiltrate the Ananda Marga organization. Some were successful even to estrange Baba's wife and try to start a parallel organisation. It is this period that "anonymous" is referring to, where Baba was arrested in Dec. 1971 and later charged with "abetting" (not committing) murder of some infiltrators/defectors. The organisation maintains that these were fabricated charges and the High Court in Patna, in 1978 concurred by acquitting and releasing Baba from Bankipur Jail in Patna, Bihar after 6 1/2 years of imprisonment, harassment and poisoning Baba (February 12, 1973). Though Ananda Marga underwent persecution from various sides since the beginning, it did not stop there. Indira Gandhi, regardless of what good things she may have achieved, under pressure from the Soviets and her own megalomania, continued to persecute Ananda Margiis from around the world, including blacklisting and incarcerating foreign devotees who came for travel, training and darshan with Baba in Bankipur Jail. In 1975, the Allahabad High Court found Indira Gandhi guilty of election fraud, invalidating her seat in the Indian Parliament, thereby making it impossible for her to continue as Prime Minister. She responded by declaring a state of emergency and ordered the arrest and imprisonment of political opposition parties and leaders (including most of the current ruling coalition), NGO's cultural organizations, and, of course, Ananda Marga and its sister organisations, too. Over 15,000 Ananda Margii monks, nuns, men and women were imprisoned until the end, when India and her Congress faction were voted out of power 19 months later. During this incarceration, CBI and other jail officials starved, tortured and killed some of the Ananda Marga monks. During some interrogations in New Delhi, truth serum was injected, burning, beating with rubber hose, and sometime Russian advisors were present during the sessions (if not KGB, then who?). Though the opposition Janata coalition took over power in 1997, many of their leaders were slow to bring justice on behalf of Ananda Marga, which lost much property, schools, homes misappropriated by the CBI and Indira sympathizers. Though a new government came to power, most of the police and bureaucracy had their hands bloodied before and during the emergency rule and were not about to come to the help of Ananda Margiis. A few like George Fernandez, imprisoned head of Indian Socialist Party, bravely came out in support of Baba and Ananda Marga in those trouble times. Ironically, now George Fernandez, an outspoken humanist and devoted catholic now serving as India's Defense Minister, in a public interview on the anniversary of the end of emergency, openly admitted to "bombing bridges" back in the '70's. Indira was re-elected in Jan 1980, then proceeded to sow the seeds of her own downfall. In order to capture power in Punjab State, then run by the moderated Akali Dal state government, Indira used the RAW (Research Analysis Wing), IB (Intelligence Branch), and party slush funds to encourage the radical separatist Sikh factions agitating for Punjab's political independence and succession from India. These Khalistan fundamentalists, encouraged secretly by Indira in her greed for power, got out of hand, committed terrorist acts, hijackings, bombings, and finally occupied the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the Sikh religions holiest shrine. Indira was forced to retaliate by attacking the temple with army commandos desecrating the shrine in the process and wipe out the radicals she, herself, had funded and abetted. In reaction her own Sikh bodyguards assassinated Indira Gandhi. It did not stop there -- Indira and her party were energetic to give moral, financial and military aid to the Tamil Tigers of Sri Lanka via the same RAW, IB and other channels, even permitting several training camps to be established in the Tamil Nadu State in India. This backfired some years later, when her son, Rajiiv, succeeded her as party head and Prime Minister. Rajiiv was assassinated by the very same Tigers and sympathizers she nurtured, who were angry at Rajiiv for sending Indian troops to support he ruling parties in Sri Lanka. I will not claim here that some persons in opposition to Ananda Marga and perhaps even some radical minded members themselves, did not take "justice" into their own hands, but some officials the CBI have admitted to fabricating evidence to implicate Baba and the organisation in the turbulent period of the '70's. I do not justify it nor support it, nor did Baba. | ||
| Objective Margii |
Namaskar Turiiya, Thank you for that elaborate and informative history lesson! Very interesting indeed. My question is, why was/is Ananda Marga such a significant threat to the communists and others who were/are persecuting the organization? How many people were involved with AM/Prout back in the 70's? I just have trouble believing that AM was and/or is such a formidable threat to these people that they would feel the need to persecute and repress it at all costs. | ||
| Anonymous |
Turiiya Phew ! That certainly scratched someone. Who wrote this history, there were no attributions. To have all this immediately to hand suggests you have been provided with a very elaborate attack in defence of anyone daring to question am. Your elaborate argument to gloss over the slaughter of members of am who were not happy with your guru's ideas does not wash. Hitler, Stalin, Idi Amin, Saddam Hussein and other mass murderers still have their followers. But to be fair to them they do not pretend to be charitable organsations to recruit new supporters. In my humble opinion am is still a very dangerous cult prepared to go to any lengths to promote there strange ideas of world government by supporters of am of course. Why is am so against Greeks ? I would strongly warn against anyone turning their back on anyone promoting peace by anyone with such beliefs... | ||
| turiiya |
to "anonymous", who replied on 01 Nov -- 05:06 am: kindly make the effort to select some sort of unique username handle (full name or legal name is certainly not expected, nor required)besides the generic "anonymous" -- at least have the courage to step out of the virtual shadows a wee bit before receiving the honor of detailed rebuttal. as for "attribution", I have not seen much of that by anyone in this message board -- even your casual use of big names like Hitler, Stalin, Idi Amin, et al is cheap shot. using your logic some may also choose to list Harry Truman (hiroshima & nagasaki), various popes, emporers, kings, presidents, new world "explorers", etc. and what to say of Lord Krsna, who was cursed by Queen Gandhari, as having been responsible for abetting or facilitating the kurukshetra battle of Mahabharata... to everyone: i wrote that historical stuff on the fly, so pls excuse a few typos and poor syntax. also pls note that the Janata coalition was elected in '1977' (not 1997), which brought the end to emergency rule. as mentioned, it most certainly is not a comprehensive explanation but is intended to give an overview of the various forces, sometimes violent, at work in just one country like India. | ||
| Buriiya |
Turiiya Answer these two "Why was/is Ananda Marga such a significant threat to the communists and others who were/are persecuting the organization?" "In my humble opinion am is still a very dangerous cult prepared to go to any lengths to promote there strange ideas of world government by supporters of am of course". | ||
| Krishnapriyo |
Thank you Turiya This is the post that I planned to post a few days before but unfortunately I could not make my time. It is time that some effort should be made from the spirited ones to bring to life the truth about AM history and its opposition. What is the threat to the existing systems from AM needs really to be unfolded to the world so that they can accept it. | ||
| Anonymous |
Aren't you guys starting a debate over irreleveant issues in the present day context of world politics - Communism and Ananda Marga. One a spectacular failure and the other which never took off. The day Castro passes away, Communism will be as good as dead. Ananda Marga was as good as dead, the day Ananda Murti died. What you have is a bunch of hoodlums fighting each other for control. | ||
| Anonymous |
AM is not different from communism just doing under the cover of spiritualism luring innocent and diverting the young talent into aimless and self centric power politics. | ||
| Anonymous |
What is the deal with "PROUT"? Who on earth would want a bunch of crazy acharyas running the world anyway? Isn't that what is really meant by giving leadership to the "sadvipras" (ie: Indian acharyas, or perhaps senior margiis). Do you visualize a world where everyone is acting like they are Indian, like in Ananda Marga which claims to be "universalist" but is actually just Indian culture based. People of all nationalities walking around in saris and punjabis namaskaring to each other? How is that universal? You think the world is a mess now, based on the current condition of Ananda Marga, I can't imagine how bad off it would be if Ananda Marga was running the show! | ||
| sahadev |
There is a an old slogan, often seen on wall-writings in India, where such means of expressing views is quite common. It translates roughly like this: "Capitalism makes man a beggar, Communism makes the beggar a beast!" History has borne out that slogan. Though capitaism is not necessarily the final solution to humankind's economic needs, it is still a cut higher than communism. Essentially they are the "heads and tails" of the same coin -- materialism. Alas, in developing countries, and in periods of extreme economic downturn or exploitation, sincere reformers and activists are often drawn to some flavour of Marixist dialectical-materialism as the supposed antidote. In some countries like India, certain intelligencia in states like West Bengal and Kerala fly the communist banner not necessarily out of sincere belief in the doctrine but rather to protest the dominate forces of other ruling parties representing the status quo of Central government in New Delhi. The sad part is that, while the leaders of these so-called "communist" parties are not real marxist leninist or whatever, they have corrupted generations of students and workers into believing the same. The leaders like will touch the feat of leading capitalist Tatas and Birlas, while exhorting their minions to force schoolteachers and governemt officials to join the party ranks. Castro will die one day, but the skeleton "marxists" in Kolkata (formerly known as Calcutta) will still be having their cake and eating it too. Back into the 1940's, around the time of India's independence, there was no Ananda Marga formed but Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar was known to family and friends as adept in matters of astrology and healing. Prabhat's mother was approached by another woman (some say her own cousin) appealing for Prabhat's help to cure her son's serious illness for which doctors said he would soon die. Prabhat prescribed a certain cure including the wearing of an ringed amulet around the upper arm -- as long as the patient would wear the that arm band, he would ward off that illness and death. Many view following such god-fearing prescriptions as superstition, perhaps rightly so. Nevertheless, the patient is said to be sincerely following the prescription unto this day and it appears to have worked. That patient not only survived but went on to lead his party faction in the harassment and persecution of Ananda Marga in West Bengal. Thus there is a joke amongst spiritual sadhakas in West Bengal, including margiis and non-margiis, which labels the venerable CPM (Communist Party Marxist) leader Jyoti Basu as a "long-sleeve" communist. | ||
| Andrew |
Why don't you guys who want to discus Indian politics open a different discussion group? By inundating this forum with petty politics of India and Ananda Marga, you are condemning AM to being a irrelevant political entity, instead of being a spiritual organization with a distinct identity. Remember this forum is for discussions on Religious Cults and Sects. | ||
| Anonymous |
To Dharma Pracar Secretary Ananda Marga, Inc. New York. You still have not answered the question raised in the earlier posting on October 31st. Refusal to reply is an admission of tacit approval of what was posted - AM has wilfully authorized the flyer in question. | ||
| Bhiima |
In response to some "anonymous", who seems too scared or clueless even to select a nickname alias to use in this message board: Take your complaint directly to the office or the organization -- ample contact information is provided. This is not an official forum of Ananda Marga. Why do you expect to receive an answer here? Unless, of course, you have no such intent other than to flame the forum in a cynical and cowardly manner... | ||
| turiiya |
Wow! Just got back online and see that folks have taken interest in this discussion. I will try to address the concerns of Buriiya, Andrew and others. Rather than subject you to my limited literary skills, please permit me to introduce a few links, where you will find a wealth of information and essays on Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar, Ananda Marga and PROUT. Please keep in mind that much of the historical controversy of Ananda Marga, including the formation and interest in this forum, has its roots in the socio-economic theory of PROUT -- it is what makes Ananda Marga more than just another religious movement or spiritual cult (not a bad word, btw, in its pure form). In fact, if there was no PROUT ideology or movement, seemingly stalled and ineffectual in the current world arena, Baba would not likely have been arrested, poisoned, falsely charged/convicted and later acquitted in the first place. These first links come from a academic website concerning future studies -- relevent in that many folks in this forum are notably concerned about the future... http://www.metafuture.org/Articles/PROUT%20INDICATORS.htm http://www.metafuture.org/Books/Understanding_Sarkar_-_latest_feb_brilll.htm http://www.metafuture.org/Articles/IntroductoryChapterfromthebookSituatingSarkar.htm This link is to the portal of ProutWorld, which publishes in print and online: http://www.proutworld.org/ This link is to the portal of Renaissance Universal, founded by P.R. Sarkar, which publishes an eclectic magazine, as well hosts symposiums and study groups around the world. Here you will find articles from P.R.Sarkar/Anandamurti as well as others, margiis and non-margiis, on a broad range of topics relevent today: http://www.ru.org/articles.html Hopes this helps to get a deeper concept of Ananda Marga and PROUT as well as stimulate further _enlightened_ discussion in this forum  | ||
| Objective Margii |
To Bhiima: I think the reason the person wants an answer here is that it is central to a debate on this forum about whether or not AM is taking responsibility for the activities taking place in Los Altos. The integrity of the organization is being questioned, and the answer to that question is how AM will deal with the situation. That is why an answer is appropriate here. To Andrew: I think the discussion of Indian politics is very relevant to several questions that have been raised about AM as a religious cult. People have questioned the integrity of AM on many levels and to look at AM outside of it's historical, political and cultural context would be misleading. | ||
| Bhishma |
Pardon me for using such esoteric names. Looks like Bhiima is itching for a fight! If AM has nothing to hide then it should not have any problems in answering a simple "yes" or "no", especially after the Secretary has claimed in his posting that "Dharma Pracar" department of Ananda Marga is authorized to certify individual teachers of Ananda Marga yoga/meditation classes. Furthermore, this department is authorized to register, guide and monitor the activties of local Ananda Marga "Units" or chapters". Why bother to respond at all when you are not willing to go all the way. Suddenly, you find this forum inundated with relevant/irrelevant mails to drown out the accusations on AM. Where were you Bhiima all these days? | ||
| Anonymous |
Folks, Please understand the mission of this forum before you post your garbage on this message board. http://www.factnet.org/mission.htm?FACTNet | ||
| Objective Margii |
To Anonymous referencing the mission of factnet: I don't think any of the discussion on this list is outside the scope of the factnet mission. AM has been accused on this list of being a destructive cult that uses mind-control tactics. Some people have been defending against these allegations. I think the discussions have been relevant - even the political discussions that some have cited as irrelevant. How can we know if AM is a "destructive" cult if we don't explore these issues? If AM members are accused of being murderers, I think it is important to look at the larger context and political landscape. To give an analogy, that is like saying that George Bush is a murderer for invading Iraq. Some people would agree with that statement, while others would refute it. So is the USA a destructive and coercive nation that engages in unethical controlling of other nations or not? We would have to discuss situations like Iraq to get anywhere with the issue (That was an analogy - I'm not sugesting we actually discuss that topic). | ||
| ananda margii |
In reply to Bhiima, Bhishma, Objective Margii and others: I am NOT the Dharma Pracar Secretary of Ananda Marga in USA, North America or anywhere else, for that matter. I am simply an ananda margii. The contact data for New York Sector (includes USA) of Ananda Marga is available at the following URL: http://nys.amps.org/depts.html All I did was take that information and post it here on the message board. It is up to any of you to contact the organization directly with comments, complaints, etc. One cannot assume that the departmental or unit secretary concerned is reading messages in this group or hundreds of others like it around cyberspace. So, again, as Bhiima so bluntly has pointed out: take it to the office of the organization rather than ranting on this soapbox -- unless your intent is not really to get an answer. BTW, "Bhiima" and "Bhishma"... how fitting ;) | ||
| ananda margii |
Correction on comment just posted: I used the word "ranting" in the second-to-last paragraph, which may offend some, and I apologize. Perhaps a softer expression like "ruminating" might fit... or, in keeping with the Mahabharata metaphor, Bhiima or Bhishma might like the word "roaring"... suggestions are welcome. | ||
| ananda margii |
I just visited the following URL: http://www.geocities.com/das_ragu/ There is no mention of Ananda Marga, whether in Bay Area or Los Altos, in text body or contact info. | ||
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