Guru Blesses Student's Plastic Surgery?
File under: Vanity of the Gurus
Did former SYDA meditation teacher Sally Kempton "refresh" herself as she embarks upon a career as a guru? Granted the blessing of her own guru, Gurumayi Chidvilasananda, to strike out on her own, Ms. Kempton is looking a lot fresher around the eyes and chin in the pic on the right.It makes a lot more sense when one considers that Gurumayi herself is rumored to have had her own work done to her nose and cheekbones. Perhaps she has learned that if she keeps herself looking fresh and vital, people will be continue to be fooled into believing she is a divine being worthy of being worshipped by satellite TV every Sunday in SYDA centers all over the world. Because what is God if not pretty?
Update: We've gone ahead and asked Sally as to whether this rumor is true. She says it is not. Case closed and thanks to Jai Bhakti for staying on us about this.
posted by guruphiliac @ 9:48 PM
16 Comments:
I can guarantee that dis-ing people on the web will NOT get you there.
We are exactly where we wish to be, which is here and now and having an absolute riot showing people the truth of the fact that being a guru doesn't make anyone anymore divine than anyone else, despite all the pomp, circumstance and obsequious fawning that occur around them.
(If there must be a quantifier, then for lack of anything better I'll use the term:)"Awakened" and planning for plastic surgery. A breast enlargement. Why you may ask.. because I'd like to experience what larger breasts are like. I even know a shaman that is a plastic surgeon; she's into shapeshifting for the sake of experience. Sure, I could go into more detail, but I don't feel like it. If you think only un-awakened folks have plastic surgery, think again. I feel no shame, only tingly excitement. I've thoroughly enjoyed my A-cups and love them very much. Everyone is welcome to their judgments. I am welcome to soon rejoice in life on earth with a bouncy C-cup.
What does printing untruths about Sally Kempton do to reveal that gurus aren't anymore divine than anyone else? Gurumayi would be the FIRST person to tell you that she is no more divine than you or I. We all contain THAT, which is the source of all. The entire point of my email was that Sally has NOT had surgery, as your site infers she has. A true seeker can decipher the real gurus from the fake. Keep having your 'fun' in revealing all of these 'truths' that may or not be true, if that's what gets you there.
What does printing untruths about Sally Kempton do to reveal that gurus aren't anymore divine than anyone else?
I'm not yet convinced it's untrue.
I've sent her a letter asking her directly. If she responds and denies the surgery, I will correct the article.
Gurumayi would be the FIRST person to tell you that she is no more divine than you or I.
Gurumayi allows people to worship her as God. Regardless of what she says, her actions say something else: I enjoy being treated as a living deity. Her allowing such creates more occlusion, as her devotees come away with the impression that they will be just as "divine" when they come to self-realization.
A true seeker can decipher the real gurus from the fake.
A true seeker can benefit from gurus who are fake, but they may have to run their gauntlet first.
Keep having your 'fun' in revealing all of these 'truths' that may or not be true, if that's what gets you there.
I'm already where I want to be. And yes, I will keep having my fun, thank you.
I can tell you right now that Sally wouldn't waste her time responding to such ridiculous 'reporting'.
I've known Gurumayi for YEARS and never once has she asked me or inferred that I should think of her as God. What she does ask me to do is look inside myself to find what I am looking for. That has always worked for me.
You just keep printing your untruths...and I'm glad you're so happy.
By the way...which guru did you sell your soul to that made you feel so burned?? Perhaps you shouldn't have been expecting the guru to show you what's really in your heart--which in your case is deception. Since you're a guru-aficionado, I'll assume that you know the 'true' gurus mirror what is in your heart.
I am healing from a triple level fusion in my cervical spine, that's why I have time to (waste) responding to your emails. Why is your life so empty that you have the time to respond to mine? Why do you spend so much time in anger--posing to be 'funny'--when you could be doing something to better yourself and others. There's nothing 'funny' about your site. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart is funny...The Onion is funny. You're not in that ballpark, because you don't pretend to be satire; you think you're printing the truth, when all you're doing is slander.
Again, I'm glad you're happy. I'd rather there be a happy person who's spreading lies (at least about Sally and Gurumayi), than have an unhappy person in the world. Keep smiling!
p.s. This is the last time that you will hear from me because it's just a complete waste of time and not very dharmic of me to critisize your life's work.
Much love, and I truly AM glad that you are where you need to be.
Love, Bhakti
p.s.s. Above, I stated that Gurumayi never once asked me to think of her as God. What I meant to say is that she never asked me to think of her as God anymore than she asks me to think of myself as God. She is a reflection of us all. We are all mirrors. Some need a little more dusting than others.
Love (sincerely) Bhakti
Your complete lack of objectivity about Gurumayi is noted.
A good number of the denizens on the Leaving SYDA mailing list live in fear of Gurumayi because they still believe she is divine.
I've seen Gurumayi twice. The first time was in Oakland in 1988. The folks I went with were doing everything they could to get me to believe she was divine. Most of the other folks there were wiggling with "kriyas" at her arrival. Kriyas my dog's ass. They may have thought of them as kriyas, but they were really just a display of their own "attainment". In other words, they were all showing off.
The second time was at a SYDA center in Southern California, and her appearance was by way of satellite transmission. She basically sat there and tried to look divine as people all over the world chanted the guru gita to her.
SYDA is all about Gurumayi as far as I can tell, and the whole thing is predicated on her divine powers of shaktipat.
Catch a clue, Jai Bhakti. Your head is full of occluding nonsense despite your tragic inability to discern this for yourself.
re: Your complete lack of objectivity about Gurumayi is noted
Okay, you've forced me to write back-- My lack of objectivity about Gurumayi is due to the fact that she teaches everything that the divine rishis from 8,000 teach. Nothing she teaches is new. Kriyas are not figments of the imagination. They, too, have been noted since the beginning of the written word (the Vedas, etc).
As far as your friends trying to 'convince' you that Gurumayi is divine, you need to get yourself some new friends. Like I said before, a TRUE seeker can discern the real gurus from the fake. A friend cannot MAKE you believe that someone is divine. Either they are your guru, or not. Gurumayi obviously is NOT your guru. One of my best friends went to visit Gurumayi and she wasn't HIS guru either. I didn't waste my time trying get him 'convinced' because that is not what Siddha Yoga is about. It's friends like yours that ruined Siddha Yoga, and I believe it's friends like yours that caused Gurumayi to close the ashram to day visitors.
I'm not one of the people on the Leaving SY site. Like I've said a million times, if you go to a guru expecting anything but a mirror of yourself, you're going for the wrong reason.
re:Your head is full of occluding nonsense despite your tragic inability to discern this for yourself.
Now, here you go again, assuming you know the truth. You know nothing about me. If my head was full of untruths, I would be angry and defensive with you, but I'm actually smiling and think you're quite funny. I still think its a hoot that someone would waste their time doing what you do.
By the way, for anyone reading this who would like to know the truth about Sally Kempton, try visiting her website and looking at the photo their...it's not quite as airbrushed as the one that Jody has posted here. Therein lies the truth about the 'work' Sally had done. Should I have her email you, Jody, for permission to wear lipstick???
Unlike your friends, I don't need Gurumayi as a piece of jewelry to show off to my friends...she's a spiritual guide in the innermost sense...along with Jesus, Paramahansa Yoganandaji, Ramana Maharshi, Shankaracharya, etc. You have to ask yourself, Jody, why did you bother to go see Gurumayi twice, when you weren't 'convinced' the first time. I hope you asked for your money back.
Jeez, for someone who's vowed to NEVER respond to anti-SYDA rhetoric, you sure have a hard time keeping your trap shut. I wonder how many "last times" it takes for you to get over yourself.
she teaches everything that the divine rishis from 8,000 teach.
Sure, her and every other big time guru. At least, they all say they do.
[Gurumayi is] a spiritual guide in the innermost sense...along with...Shankaracharya
Shankara would laugh at this. All the bullshit about Gurumayi's magic powers is the epitome of the antithesis of Advaita Vedanta.
Jody, why did you bother to go see Gurumayi twice
I went the second time at the behest of a friend whose spiritual understanding I respect greatly. She is an example of this truth: "It's not what you believe, it's how you believe it." She has come to realization in the context of her bhakti for Gurumayi. But that had nothing to do with Gurumayi and everything to do with my friend's sincerity. It just goes to show you that one's Ishta Devata isn't nearly as important as the strength and sincerity of your devotion.
Actually, this is the first time that I have responded to any anti-Siddha Yoga rhetoric. I responded because you attacked a dear friend of mine (Sally Kempton).
Your friend came to realization because of her 'bhakti'. I had an epiphany when I was 8 years old (I suppose you'll say that's bull, too) and met Gurumayi when I was 33. She was an extension of that epiphany.
What 'magic' powers are you talking about? Shaktipat is not magic...it is spiritual awakening.
And, Shankaracharya would not be remiss at Gurumayi's teachings. I've said it a million times, a true seeker is drawn to the guru who will take him or her where they need to go. I've been inexplicably drawn to Shankaraychara in both his recorded written text, and in his images. I suppose you think that someone going spontaneously into meditation upon seeing a visual of a saint is bull too.
The thing I find amazing about you is that you don't like Gurumayi (or any other gurus--spiritual teachers) because they 'tell' you what to think, and 'tell' you what is real and what isn't real. But then, here we go with the whole mirror thing again...isn't that EXACTLY what you do on your site?
You're the true anti-guru. Let's go to Jody for all of our spiritual truths. Let's not ask ourselves, and believe in the truth of ourselves, but lets let Jody do the thinking for us.
Okay, you got me...I'm dropping Gurumayi as a spiritual beacon in my life. You got me Jody. I'm no longer going to associate myself with Sally, either. God forbid she airbrush that picture!
Man, let me take down the pictures of Jesus and Nityananda I have in my private bedroom; What will someone think of me if they see into my private world of spirituality.
I think blogging is ridiculous because I don't even know you. I'm sharing things with you for sheer entertainment because I am bored.
Do you really think that I would change my heartfelt spiritual feelings and realization and connection with the great saints of all ages because Jody says it's a figment of my imagination?
Tell that to Jesus and get back to me.
In good fun, keep up the attacks.
I love you, too.
Bhakti
P.S. Would it be possible for us to have a civil conversation about spirituality, or is YOUR lack of objectivity sealed?
How come my post directing your devotees to Sally's site to see the not-so-airbrushed picture of her never appeared? Hhmmm. Is this selective blogging?
If you want the Truth...look into your own heart. You truly won't find it anywhere else.
And as far as Shanakaracharya and Advaita Vedanta: Vedanta teaches that we are not the body, but the soul which inhabits the body. Recognizing ourselves as the body creates duality. What I've taken from Gurumayi's teachings is the echo of this teaching. If anyone came out with anything other than that, than that is their experience, not mine. I'm sorry to inform all of you who hate SY, but my experience with Gurumayi has been beautiful and spiritually expansive and rewarding. I love and honor Gurumayi as much as I honor all of the other TRUE gurus.
Keep the attacks coming...I'll just keep proclaiming my love for the Lord and the Self...You are but a mere reflection of myself and and extension of my Self. So, have fun and keep plugging away!
:) Bhakti
Where is Gurumayi??
Fallsburgh? India?
I believed in this and spent much money in the late 90's . NOw where is she?
notesfreely@yahoo.com
I'd just like to post in response to kriyas as showing off one's 'attainment.' I think many people who have had strong kriyas will agree that there's little intention involved, self-centered or otherwise.
many people who have had strong kriyas will agree that there's little intention involved
Sure, those who experienced authentic kriyas, likely a small subset of those who were enacting kriyas at a Gurumayi satsang.
as for plastic surgery... who cares? Is this such a great sin?
In fact, Sally did have plastic surgery quite a while back. It was obvious to those around her because her face was way tighter. Again, so what! I don't know her reasons, but clearly it's a personal choice. Plastic surgery is becoming part of the kit used as one ages. It will become very common place in another generation. What a silly conversation.
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