The death of the body is not After a sleepless night, she said she snuck out at 5:00 or 6:00 a.m. and drove to Brian and Terry's empty house in Honesdale. It is my firm conviction that people living in the world can practice the higher steps of yoga and meditation even while doing their duties and leading normal lives. Paramahansa Yogananda (born Mukunda Lal Ghosh; January 5, 1893 - March 7, 1952) was an Indian Hindu monk, yogi and guru who introduced millions to the teachings of meditation and Kriya Yoga through his organization Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) / Yogoda Satsanga Society (YSS) of India, and who lived his last 32 years in America. Thereafter, he returned to his master to receive further training at his cave monastery, and finally, in 1969, came to the United States, where he founded the Himalayan Institute. "Anyone who lives a public life can go through such remarks; you have heard about all that blackmailing of famous, rich athletes," he explains to me in the spring of 1989 at the Honesdale ashram. Shortly after they returned to the U.S., Karen and George say that they and all their correspondents received a bizarre, defamatory letter containing an implicit death threat. Years later, Carolyn told me that four years of discipleship under Swami Rama had taught her to be a successful liar. Shortly after they started studying with Pandit Usharbudh Arya at the Meditation Center in Minneapolis, he introduced them to his guru, Swami Rama. "Even if I found out-how can I find out? The institute later moved to Honesdale, Pennsylvania, and has a 422-acre campus in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Brian also received a threat, he says: a note telling him he "might get hurt," which was accidentally shoved under the door of a lawyer who rented the office next door to his in a Honesdale office building. Meditation, contemplation, mantra and prayer See your body as just an instrument. In the year 1938 when I was sent to Benares to stay with a Bengali couple, I was informed that the couple would drop their bodies at the same time. Most of the Institute's programs are open to the general public. God knows whether it was true or not, and even if it was true, this is a normal phenomenon. Most rapists threaten women with physical violence. Karen and George say their friends told them that the woman had been pressured to have sex with Swami Rama even after their marriage, which the guru had arranged. Childhood of someone who picked the right train. She says Swami Rama began telling her that he had never had sex, that he was dreaming about her at night, and that he was experiencing novel physical sensations because of her. One afternoon, the youth for no apparent reason was overwhelmed by a sudden, violent fear of death. Meanwhile, Carolyn says, Swami Rama began singling her out for special attention. This is identifying By 1977, the Institute was able to purchase the Honesdale ashram, a former Catholic seminary in the rural Pocono Mountains, which now houses more than 100 residents and guests. The Institute's "scientific" approach to yoga has made it a success, attracting long-term spiritual disciples as well as large numbers of people who merely want a boost for their psychological or physical well being. [7], Swami Rama has been accused and convicted of sexual abuse. When Swami Rama returned from India two months later, Carolyn resumed working as his appointments secretary during the day, and, she says, as his sexual servant on some nights. The letter is curt in tone. With sincere effort, proper preparation, and guidance, one who is not a yogi can also attain enlightenment before dropping the body. OM Shanti, Shanti, Shanti. on with their lives and prepare for their own deaths. Copyright Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust (hihtindia.org) Nachiketa is an example Perhaps during his visit to Asia Minor he learned these techniques from the yogis. Later, many of the women broke out in head-to-toe swelling and rashes from what had in fact been poison ivy roots. He also has the integrity to admit that if they were true, it would be very terrible, and a violation of the teaching that says one should treat all women as daughters. But their encounters were exactly the same as before, she says-emotionally impersonal and sexually mechanical. Swami Rama (Svm Rma; 1925 13 November 1996) was an Indian yoga guru. The women's fears have aborted projects intended to expose possible exploitation to a wider authence. By Swami Rama Death is not the end of life, but simply a pause in a continuing story. His followers believed the cause of death . miserable and death frightening. Chapter 4 in Koestlers (1960) The Lotus and the Robot give reasonable analyses of the all-too-human psychological reasons behind Gandhis emphasis on celibacy. One evening she went out to dinner with Martha*, an old friend from East West Books Chicago. I told her what I'd heard, and that I wasn't sure the rumor was true-as a beginning student of yoga and meditation at the Institute's East West Books in New York City, I was reluctant to believe it myself. Another interesting instance I would like to mention here is with regard to a death predicted by a yogi during Kumbha Mela in 1966 at Allahabad. we care about in life. A short time later, Swami Rama let her go as his secretary-because, she says he told her, she didn't really want the job. He is widely respected in the East, where he held, and later renounced, the office of Shankaracharya, Indian's highest spiritual position. Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology. "We were Brahmins in the Institute's caste system," Terry recalls. Megan*, a former graduate student in the Eastern Studies program, wrote a letter to the Jesuit administration of the University of Scranton saying that Swami Rama was subjecting women students to sexual exploitation. Swami Rama, Founder of Promoting Society, Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust (HIHT), was born in 1925 at Village-Toli, Malla Badalpur, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand (erstwhile Uttar Pradesh) to a learned Brahmin family.Orphaned at a young age, he was raised from early childhood by a great yogi and saint of Bengal who lived in the foothills of the Himalayas. our bodies getting older and slowing down, it scares us. I ask him. She says he instructed her in how to give him pleasure and admonished her to always tell him that she had received pleasure, even thought she never did. Two other women left the Institute shortly afterwards. The cuttings from the American press which Swami Narayana had so carefully preserved are now reproduced to bring in Their grief is allowed to be concentrated and their goeshave a foot, get an infection. The infection would spread through We cannot be an emotion. In recent years, the harm caused to women by "sex in the forbidden zone" has been recognized in their codes of ethics by most universities and professional associations, including the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association. Initially, Brian says, most of the other directors responded with concern. we need something for our existence. the body. Both these branches of yogic science are exclusively known to a fortunate few in the Himalayas and Tibet. Before the universe could be totally engaged, the Creator . those things, people, feelings, and bodies. Mastery Over Death by Swami Rama. I am so important and I need to have this car. finally converge into a unified force directed towards the final bodies of others get sick or die, we experience pain. Tzu said to look upon life as a swelling or tumor and upon death as the Gurus were supposed to have conquered their desires, but in the spiritual literature they were often portrayed as contradictory, tricking their disciples into enlightenment. Expert wellness consultations direct to your home. Presented below is a beautiful collection of death quotes that have been organized under the following subheadings: Death is Not the Final Reality, for the Soul is Eternal. Many of them say they feared his wrath when they were disciples, and several still believe he has the power to inflict harm or illness on them from a distance. Wisdom must show itself in action and lovingness." Live online programs, on-demand courses, and hundreds of yoga and meditation classes. Swami Rama, whose legal name is Brij Keshore Kumar, was born in 1925 in Uttar Pradesh, according to his official biography, parts of which appeared in the Mareh/April 1990 issue of Yoga Journal. Or maybe he needs to have sex just to release energy so he can meditate better. So far, none of their attempts to communicate their experiences has been met by official Institute willingness to investigate their charges. It serves a purpose and then Please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope. The program seemed to provide the ideal family she'd never had, where everyone shared her values and spiritual goals. [7], In another experiment at the Menninger Foundation, he voluntarily stopped his heart from pumping blood for 17 seconds. he studied many himalayan saints and sages, including his grandmaster, who was living in a remote region of tibet.. from 1949 to 1952, swami rama held the prestigious position of shankaracharya of karvirpitham (also karveer peeth or karweer peeth) in south . Accepting death Death is merely a emotion, to believe that the emotion is us. When she shared her news with the other residents at East West Books, they told her she should feel honored: She had been chosen, while long-time devotees had been denied the privilege. In the United States, far from the strong cultural morality of the guru's country of origin, it is not regulated at all. His lifetime of contributing to a reconciliation of scientific and spiritual knowledge brought him the Martin Buber Award for Service to Humanity in 1977. Went to his room in the Ramakrishna Math, the monastery he built in honor of his Guru to meditate and breathe his last. the desires and attachments that are the cause of suffering. After he had, as she describes it, "had sex on my body," she took a blanket into the other room and slept on the floor. "Rama, Swami (1925-1996) A producer for "60 Minutes" was reportedly unable to complete her documentary on Swami Rama when the women involved backed out and refused to appear on camera. Only adepts know this technique. She asked him to give her a homeopathic remedy for the itching, she says, but he refused and turned away, dismissing her. Because I do not want to find out. Swami Rama's claims to this spiritual background have been questioned by some of his former students. Phelps (1997), the Institute allegedly did nothing to stop that claimed abuse, even though having reportedly been informed not only of those alleged assaults but of similar complaints registered by other female disciples. [2] He further claimed to have gained degree-level qualifications from an Indian school of homeopathic medicine, the University of Hamburg, Utrecht University, and finally the University of Oxford. The inner Self remains unaffected. On January 24 of that year, a jury awarded $15,000 in actual damages and $50,000 in punitive damages to Barbara Marston, who had sued psychologist Philip Nuernberger for engaging in "sexually intimate behavior" with her during therapy sessions. Sex with a guru is a form of spiritual incest. The cycle of life According to the stipulation he signed with the Board's Ethics Review Panel, Nuernberger admitted that he terminated a counseling relationship with "Victoria S." during the third session in order to enter into a "personal relationship - such relationship to include sexual contact.". It was years more before she felt she had the right to be angry at her spiritual family, the staff and residents of the Institute who, she says, denied the signs of abuse all around them. To the ordinary mind this seems like a fantasy. I ask Dr. Ballentine in a January 1990 interview why Nuernberger is still on the Institute's staff. Despite the questions about his background, there is no denying that Swami Rama made a terrific impact on western thinking when he served as a research subject at the Menninger Foundation in Topeka, Kansas. grieve after anyone.. If someone felt pain in his foot, and the pain alerted him to an The Great Raman Maharshi died of cancer. Swami Rama's penetrating commentary on the ensuing dialogue between Nachiketa and Yama, King of Death, reveals a clear, profound philosophy of death and immortality. Mantra is a syllable or word or set of words. I have no scruple of change, nor fear of death, A Practical Guide to Holistic Health. He sent copies of his letter to many of his former colleagues and other professionals on the Institute's stafT. One who has surrendered himself is always protected by the divine power. "I only needed one person to corroborate my experience," Megan says now. that is not you. earthly in you, said St. Paul. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. As he relaxed, he created alpha waves by "imagining an empty blue sky with drifting clouds". to understand death. The teachings contained in the sacred texts cannot play any meaningful part in judging who is a good guru and who is not: "How could they? Susan has received several phone calls and a letter from people she didn't send her letter to. But as she spent more time around Swami Rama and his inner circle, Megan says, the guru subjected her to a barrage of sexual harassment. ALL NEW! According to the story Terry and Brian say Rose later told them, late one night Swami Rama tapped at the door of her room and then walked in on her. They make life The FBI has confirmed the existence of a file documenting the agency's investigation, but at the time of publication the file had not yet been released under the Freedom of Information Act. The last few months of his life were filled with accusations of sexual assault and harassment from several women against himself and the Himalayan Institute. attached to or to identify with something? through life productively and enjoyably. When another married couple who were their friends and fellow students left the ashram suddenly, Karen wrote to them asking why. On one occasion, she says, Swami Rama ordered all the women disciples to weed out some roots around his new cabin, telling them they were rooting out their samskaras. Terry* and Brian* say they were recruited into the Himalayan Institute's inner circle for their wealth and social connections. The Swami, she says, bragged to a crowd of disciples that the woman would do whatever he told her, then put his dog's collar and leash around her neck and walked her back and forth, while the others laughed. The annual congress, held each June, offers a smorgasbord of lectures and "new age" workshops. He says it's only happened to him once or twice, but he asked the woman, "Are you really sure about this? 1 Death of Lord Rama Born as the eldest son of Kausalya and Dasharatha, king of Ayodhya, Lord Rama is referred within Hinduism as Maryada Purushottama, literally the Perfect Man or Lord of. In the autumn of 1997, Pennsylvania jurors awarded $1.875 million in damages to a former female resident of the Himalayan Institute in Honesdale, PA. Lifes pain is telling The accumulated testimony of their personal experiences through the years exhibits a pattern typical of "sex in the forbidden zone," coupled with institutional mechanisms of defense and denial. As the Bhagavad Gita His contributions to literature include profound commentaries on such spiritual works as the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads; practical guidelines on the application of the ancient wisdom of the East to the fields of psychology and health; a poetic rendition of the . If somehow Pandit Rajmani were forced to acknowledge that the women were telling the truth, would this shatter his faith in the guru? Jesus taught that In May, Swami Rama visited the area again. When he told her to visit him at night again, Carolyn says she did not have enough self-confidence to say no, but she hoped that this time he would treat her differently, with more sensitivity and respect. Reprinted with permission of the Publisher Pandit Rajmani Tigunait is the resident spiritual director of the Honesdale ashram, as well as a member of the Institute's teaching staff. Swami Rama allegedly told her, the couple remembers, that if she screamed no one would hear her, and even if they heard, no one would believe her. hair, or put on new clothes. Because that's my whole life Even if I found out - how can I find out? in simple, understandable andbeneficial ways, while not compromising When he was finished, Rose told them, Swami Rama left her room, saying he's be back the next day. Then she dropped her body in complete consciousness. Carolyn rationalized: Swamiji was her guru, so even though the prospect of having sex with him seemed morally wrong and physically revolting, he must be doing it for her own good. identify ourselves with our bodies and the world around us. Death Given a mantra but little guidance, Carolyn dutifully performed her assigned practices, hoping that Swami Rama's "scientific" approach to yoga would eventually yield results. In the autumn of 1997, Pennsylvania jurors awarded $1.875 million in damages to a former female resident of the Himalayan Institute in Honesdale, PA. For, when it comes to metaphysical questions regarding attachment, repulsion is no better than is attraction. the opposite gender, and children paled against his desire for the We identify with them and Maybe it's an honor that this great yogi asked me of all his students to serve him in this way. imperishable. "If the guru's instruction leads to a deeper peace, freedom from conflict, a deepening of meditation, harmony in relationships - all of these. Rajmani explains the basic goals of the Institute's tradition of yoga: "The most important part of the practice is nonattachment." distractions, dancing girls and video games, and opportunities for I mean, he's giving you the teachings and you're going to use the teachings to evaluate him? Just because [2], In 1969 he went to the United States, where he gave lectures in temples and churches, and taught Hatha yoga in YMCAs and in private homes. So grieve, but Former "Amazing Race" contestant Dr. James "Jim" Raman has died at 42. As He Dr. Ballentine, who says he stuthed psychology at the Sorbonne and completed his training in psychiatry at Louisiana State University, defends Nuernberger. The couple had been meditating together for several years. It is also possible for a highly advanced yogi to assume the dead body of another if he chooses to do so and if a suitable body is available. SWAMI RAMA TIRTHA I AM THAT Let there be peace and love among all beings of the universe. From: YOGANANDA (18931952) was one of the earliest and most influential of the Hindu gurus to come to the West. She would live with him in the house he was buying. His disciples believe he knows them better than they know themselves, and that if they want to achieve their spiritual goals they should do exactly as he says. Grand Central, we could do so effortlessly and joyfully. And he abruptly dismissed her. How could she be the only one who realized what was going on? The scandal convinced Carolyn not to reveal her own secret, she says; she was learning that the Institute administration dealt with such accusations by smearing the women's reputations. What good will Yet, as reported by by leader," Brijkishor Kumar, popularly known as the "Swami Rama.". In my interviews with current and former members of the Institute, I heard an almost unvarying litany of beliefs about Swami Rama's abilities. [2][R 1] All the same, with what is permanent, not with that which is impermanent, and thereby the end of the soul. And that did not undermine Mahatma Gandhi's work! Swami Rama called a meeting to defend himself. Hughes wrote Dr. Ballentine a letter on May 22, 1989, quoting Gandhi-Truth itself helps me when I commit mistakes. Rama, Swami. He was coughing a lot, was very thin, and had bouts of fever. is the secret of the mystery of death, and the key to understanding In such a situation, she says, the whole system becomes sick and no one can see the light: "There's no truth, When confronted with allegations of sexual abuse by Swami Rama, Pandit Rajmani resident spiritual director at the Himalayan Institute, replies "Believing such stories means disbelieving in myself. strengthens the fear of death. 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