Re: The chain has been broken -- KRIYA YOGA DISCUSSION BOARD

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Date Posted: 11:37
Author: Anonymous - 26 Sep 2001
Subject: Re: The chain has been broken
In reply to: nojdw - 25 Sep 2001 's message, "The chain has been broken" on 11:32

IMHO, Brother Bhaktananda was just giving the official position. If he talks openly about things beyond the confines of his organization, he could be debarred from talking at all, and helping so many people. So he honors the particular pattern of beliefs he are. Once he said: �I just do my business.� Many saints do that. Brother Anandamoy once told about a SRF member visiting to Padre Pio, a great Catholic mystic. That fellow went to the saint for confession, showed him the AY, and told him he was practicing Kriya, not knowing what Padre Pio would say. The saint said, �Don�t talk about it, but you�re doing right.� When saints are great enough, they know all these things, but they also know that they cannot talk about them.

With the due respect to Brother Bhaktananda, I think there is a big difference between both cases. The first one [Dhirananda? Nerode?] was a student who left the Guru and consequently his work�-when the Guru was still alive!�-and began his own organization. Mr. Roy E. Davis did not leave his Guru nor SRF, but just the monastic order. He began to teach independently only because SRF denyed his request to lead an SRF meditation group elsewhere. See below his story in his own words:

�During the summer of 1953 I began to ponder the idea of withdrawing from the MONASTIC VOCATION. My devotion to God and RESPECT FOR MASTER�S ORGANIZATION REMAINED UNDIMINISHED but I felt the need for experience in the secular world. After much soul-searching, I met with Faye [Wright, now Sri Daya Mata] to discuss the matter. She told me in confidence of some of the decisions she had faced over the years and provided me wise counsel.

We explored the possibility of my moving to another city where, after I was settled and self-sufficient, I might organize a study group and continue to share the teachings. In the meantime, I was to continue as minister of the Phoenix center until I was fully decided upon a course of action.

A few months later, with some uncertainty but with Master�s words--�Roy, you have a winderful future��-clear in my mind and heart, I resigned from the organization while opening my consciousness to whatever evidence of good fortune God�s grace was to provide....

During a week long leave of absence from Fort Riley I visited Denver, Colorado, considering it as a possible place to live and begin a teaching ministery. My plans at the time included going to a chiropractic college, to become established in a suitable profession compatible with my philosophical views and to provide my material needs. I wrote a letter to Faye Wright, who had succeeded Mr. Lynn as head of Master�s work, telling her of my plans and explaining that I would soon be ready to represent the teaching in that region of the country.

Several weeks later her formal response on behalf of the board of directors arrived in the mail. THE LETTER INFORMED ME THAT THEY DID NOT WANT ME TO REPRESENT THE WORK IN ANY CAPACITY. There was no explanation for their decision.

For almost two years I had formulated plans based on the belief that I would be able to teach under the auspices of the organization. Now, with Mr. Lynn gone and board members�-some of whom did not personally know me�-having decided otherwise, new plans had to be made and soon implemented.

Regardless of the personal opinions some individuals comprising a corporate board might have had. I WAS STILL MASTER�S DISCIPLE AND HAD BEEN AUTHORIZED BY HIM TO TEACH.� �- �Surrendered Love, Redeeming Grace�, CSA Press, pages 59, 66-7.

As we can see, SRF changed its policy regarding lay ministers after Rajarsi�s death. According to Sri Daya Mata�s herself, the decision was primarily based NOT upon Master�s personal words, if any, but upon an inner, personal experience of her AFTER Master�s mahasamadhi. See below from her book �Finding the Joy Within You�, published by SRF, pages 257-8:

�When a great teacher leaves this world, it often happens that some different opinions arise as to how the mission begun by the guru should be guided. Questions arose during discussion of the work on the morning after I became the leader. Should the guidance of the work be in the hands of the householders or monastics? Guruji had told us it was to be with single-hearted renunciants like himself;* but that directive was being challenged by some of the members.** True, Guruji�s love for all devotees was the same. I also felt no distinction; why be bound by externals? A devotee is a devotee because he loves God, not because he wears an ocher cloth. But my mind was troubled.

That night, I sought Guruji�s answer by meditating deeply and praying to him. It was very late and I was still meditating when suddenly I saw my body get up from the bed, walk down the hall, and enter Gurudeva�s room. As I did so, out of the corner of my eye I saw his chuddar (shawl), fluttering as though in a slight breeze. I turned, and there stood my Guru! with what joy I ran to him and knelt to take the dust of his feet, holding them close to me. �Master, Master,� I cried, �you are not dead�you are not gone! Death has no claim on you.� How sweetly then he reached down and touched me on the forehead. As he did so, in that instant I knew the answer I must give at the meeting the next morning. Guruji blessed me, and I saw myself once again upon my bed.

The next morning, I met with the directors of the society, and gave the answer Guruji had conveyed to me; and his work has been united and growing and growing and growing, ever since. Such is the blessing of God.�

------------
* Interestingly, Master himself ordained in July 1951 (a few months before his mahasamadhi) six lay disciples as Yogacharyas: Dr. Lewis, Oliver Black, Rev. Bernard Cole, Se�or Cuar�n, Pedro Gonzalez Milan (both from Mexico), and Mildred Hamilton. Master�s words on the renunciants as the only leaders refer only to the SRF President, as it states a SRF letter of March 7, 1955: �Dr. M. W. Lewis, who was Master�s first disciple in America, could not be considered for the office of president because of a rule made by Master, as follows: �After the death of Rajasi, all presidents of SRF must be unmarried.� At the Board meeting on March 7th, Dr. Lewis therefore nominated Sister Daya for president. The motion was carried unanimously. Dr. Lewis, who is a member of the Board of Directors, is also vice-president of SRF.�

Later Master�s rule was apparently extended to all board members and even the Kriya ministers.

** According to a monastic, my personal friend, those members were Dr. Lewis and Sri Durga Mata.

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Replies:

Re: The chain has been broken -- Kriyaban - 27 Sep 2001, 11:38
- Re: The chain has been broken -- Anonymous - 27 Sep 2001, 11:40
Re: The chain has been broken -- Rev. Larry Koler, 07:33