Gurumayi Eruption Imminent?
File under: Blogs of Note and Gurus Clockin' Dollars
Our colleague SeekHer at the Rituals of Disenchantment blog has some very big news:
Hey Jody! SYDA has announced "A Sweet Surprise" is in store for those willing to shell out $100 to hear the New Year's Day Global Audio Broadcast! Awesome!Many thanks to SeekHer for being our eyes and ears into the world of the mysterious vanishing guru, SYDA Yoga's Gurumayi, and the thousands of devotees she's left hanging.
Speculation as to the nature of the surprise, even among hard-core devotees, runs along two lines:
One: Gurumayi has returned! Cue the gospel choir and orgiastic applause!
Two: Nothing new! But, the ashrams and centers hosting the event will distribute "all day suckers" as prasad.
I'm conducting a poll at "Rituals of Disenchantment" to see which outcome the sangham is expecting most:
Given that South Fallsburgh doesn't exactly do focus groups I'm thinking they will be tuning in for a temperature check. If a majority of devotees say they expect her Guru-ness, will she show? If a majority expect to be hosed, will they at least switch the prasad to something that won't kill a diabetic?
Stay tuned. One thing is for sure. Should the Divine Miss G actually show, even as just an "oh-so-mysterioso voice from the past" I will sign on for the webcast and report back her pearls of wisdom.
Which was probably the best thing she could have done for them.
Labels: Blogs of Note, Gurus Clockin' Dollars
posted by guruphiliac @ 8:59 PM
36 Comments:
Dear Jody,
You know you've really left the cult when you no longer give a rat's a** when mumbo jumbo of, oh gosh, will she show or not??? shows up on the screen. It's a good thing to not chase this hype until seeing stars from following a circular pattern.
There is plenty of material on the Net unmasking this cult and its 'vanishing'(ed) head. May everyone be educated and stop chasing, or trying to waste energy, via this speculation and chase.
Here's to wisdom in seeing it for what it is, and good balanced living!
Just my inner feelings...
The last time I saw GM was at the Masonic Temple on top of Nob Hill in SF a few years ago near birthday. I suspect drug addiction to pain medicine due to GM's spinal problems. I had studied SY since 1981.
She seemed on drugs to me that day. She had spoke of her back problems before and I notice her back was too stiff over the years. The spine is suggested to be erect, not stiff.
Where is she? Hard core drug addict from possibly morphine due to spinal pain.
This is what I think and feel...anybody else know?
who cares?
a former syda devotee
This is a fascinating story.
The background of Siddha yoga and the intrigue. May it continue...
I've attended the Sydney Siddha Yoga ashram for over 8 years whenever I felt like it.
I have never given them any money for programs. I never fell for the guru spin.
This woman shrouded in orange robes is just another person. Whatever deception that occured says as much about the deceived as it does the decievers.
My experiences at the ashram have been good since I never gave my power away to strange people.
It is still a beautiful place, I went there last week. It has always been welcoming and I am greatful for the place to chant and meditate in relative peace.
I find it interesting how people react when they see human flaws in other people. The guru's were always only human. If they represent themselves as something else and you believe them it is your problem.
I think it must have been exhausting representing yourself as a guru to an orgainisation like Siddha yoga.
It's highly likely Gurumayi was exposed to creepy paedophiles at a young age. It's no doubt her personality would have been deeply affected.
I wonder why ex devotees and others can't have a little compassion and consideration and own their own stuff around it all.
Obviously people like this are attracted to pop religion that requires no work on their part. Where all progress is done for them through the guru. Wake up to reality and start taking responsibility and have some human decency and see things from other perspectives. The victim stuff is bad for everyone.
Personally I love the story of Gurumayi. If she is a fraud then so are all those who now have turned against her.
Just something to mull over.
why won't you post the comment I wrote 12 hours ago.
why won't you post the comment I wrote 12 hours ago.
Because I just got to moderating the comments tonight.
My experiences at the ashram have been good since I never gave my power away to strange people.
Many honorable and deeply believing people gave their hearts, time and money. At every turn Siddha Yoga's message was, full surrender is the way, the gu ru (from darkness to light). At every turn the physical form of the guru was modeled as the form to physically bow to, surrender to (the perfected self realized being, God).
I find it interesting how people react when they see human flaws in other people. The guru's were always only human. If they represent themselves as something else and you believe them it is your problem.
The above is not a representation of how SY ran its dog and pony show. Siddha Yoga's gurus were marketed as being from a timeless lineage (of two come to find out, Muktananda and then the siblings, Gurumayi and Nityananda Jr. Big lie that it was timeless). Bow to the physical form of the guru at every program, after every chant, photos plastered over every wall. Only human, give me a break. This is not what SY sold and wanted its audience to buy and believe.
Darshan of the physical form coupled with dakshina (cash, checks to credit cards, didn't matter as long as they got their money) were two of Siddha Yoga's biggest practices.
Thanks Anonymous for your reply.
I guess I'm lucky that I never really got too sucked into it all. I've been doing some reading today and thinking more about it. I even sent an email to the local ashram sincerely asking for a reply. I've heard nothing back as yet and suspect I will not hear anything at all that reflects the truth if I hear anything at all.
It really is sad that people get screwed over by anyone but when it's something people have invested the finer parts of themselves in (spirituality) it seems all the worse.
I really have had good experiences at that place and am sad that I won't be able to enjoy it quite the same way.
Someone I really admire is high up in the organisation and now I really wonder about this person.
Oh the loss of innocence...it just happens again and again.
Govts and politicians, priests and guru's. Who out there is pure and true? Could I cultivate this within myself when I find it lacking everywhere I look?
>>>>"I wonder why ex devotees and others can't have a little compassion and consideration "<<<<
Like you, you mean?
"Personally I love the story of Gurumayi. If she is a fraud then so are all those who now have turned against her."
I don't quite get this...does this mean that former employees at Enron who have lost their pensions through fraud perpetrated by the CEO are also "frauds"? Your point makes absolutely no sense.
I think you have little understanding of the reality of siddha yoga, the role of gurus and the Hindu tradition.... which is understandable since you were so careful not to get "involved".
get educated before you give advice to others!
"Oh the loss of innocence...it just happens again and again.
Govts and politicians, priests and guru's. Who out there is pure and true? Could I cultivate this within myself when I find it lacking everywhere I look?"
12/10/2007 12:43 AM
It's okay. We are all sinners. Relax. Think about someone other than yourself a little while each day.
ok, you throw out a little crap and you get it back. I'll wear that anonymous (whoever you are???)
I've read a lot about the Hindu traditions but I can't understand how grown adults can so readily give their power away????
Like what is that????
I do have compassion and see outside myself. I always picked up that there was something troubling at the Siddha organisation. My first thought about the picture of the lady up the front was OMG...this is weird. It must be a lot of presure to have to present a certain way ie as divine.
I later saw footage of a young skinny girl translating for Muktananda and really just saw it for what it was. An obscure position to be in. She was so vulnerable then and God knows what happened to her.
For anyone on the spiritual path it is important to foster compassion. No-one is perfect at this, but it helps to take time to consider what things must be like for others.
When I said that those who once followed Gurumayi and now attack her personally are as fraudulent as she is, I meant that if she was so special to you before and now you can't have a little bit of compassion for her, you are not being true to spiritual principals and yes therefore your whole spiritual base is fraudulent.
There is no doubt that genuine people have roamed the corridors of Siddha...and I imagine these people would not be so harsh in critising others even though they have done the wrong thing.
Believing in a benvolent guru is like beleiving in Santa Clause. It comes to mind something I once heard on Oprah..."beware of people who are at your feet because one day they will be at your throat." Hmmmm seems to ring true with devotees at the guru's feet when their own fog begins to clear and they see reality as it is.
Are you still going to try and defend your position and remain a victim all your life, or are you going to take some responsibility and say yes maybe I was temporarily deluded.
Have a nice day.
:)
"kyl said...
why won't you post the comment I wrote 12 hours ago."
Wonderful to see that the ego-eradicating power of Siddha Yoga has worked such wonders with you, kyl.
>>"Are you still going to try and defend your position and remain a victim all your life, or are you going to take some responsibility and say yes maybe I was temporarily deluded."<<<
What position are you talking about? You know nothing about me..whether I was in siddha yoga, ever followed a guru or what my "stance" might be on the "guru/disciple" relationship. Again, your comments on gurus show a lack of understanding no matter how much browsing you have done in Hindu tradition.
"Have a nice day.
:)"
Ah! Now I see the typical siddha yoga passive-agressive "bhav"...congratulations! you "imbibed" alot more than I gave you credit for!
anonymous
(and staying that way in this conversation)
You are obviously really angry and this has nothing to do with me. I think you must also be lonely...it's pretty sad really.
You couldn't have made the comments you have unless you've been to Siddha
Such as
Wonderful to see that the ego-eradicating power of Siddha Yoga has worked such wonders with you, kyl.
Ah! Now I see the typical siddha yoga passive-agressive "bhav"...congratulations! you "imbibed" alot more than I gave you credit for!
It's really weird that you are so angry about a strangers opinion from the other side of the world.
I suspect that you are embittered and it wouldn't matter what anyone did or said it you seem to need to defend some stance that you never outlined in the first place.
I also suspect that you don't look at yourself in any helpful way and never admit when you are wrong, otherwise you wouldn't have reacted the way you did.
Anyway free therapy time is now over so I shall leave you with another smile...call it passive aggressive but it is obviously effective. lol
:)
"You are obviously really angry and this has nothing to do with me. I think you must also be lonely...it's pretty sad really.""<<
Burp! pardon me while I finish my beer. Boo Hoo! Oh Kyl, you are right! I'm SO alone and lonely sitting here in this bar...! and the lime from the Dos Equis is bitter on my tongue and so I am bitter too. I have something to tell you though...you are combining messages from several different people into one imaginary "entity" who you are psychoanalyzing and making judgements about.Is this multiple-personality therapy? lol.
Have a nice day, Kyl.
first entity
Thank you first entity.
If you all at least gave yourselves a nickname I could respond to you all. You are all just like vicious children that need to be spanked with words. (I'm sure someone will find something interested to respoond to that, lol)
First entity, I'm really glad you have a sense of humour. Cheers to you!!!
Have a nice day. Lol
:)
Thank you first entity.
If you all at least gave yourselves a nickname I could respond to you all. You are all just like vicious children that need to be spanked with words. (I'm sure someone will find something interested to respoond to that, lol)
First entity, I'm really glad you have a sense of humour. Cheers to you!!!
Have a nice day. Lol
:)
Or possibly only a troll enjoying another round of Internet multiple personalities. It reads like this script from what's been posted .
>>'You are all just like vicious children that need to be spanked with words. (I'm sure someone will find something interested to respoond to that, lol)"<<<
oooooooooo! kinky kinky Kylie...spanking with words~ ouch! burp!
first entity
I had a dream last night where Gurumayi was walking through this courtyard. Suddenly, from the heavens above, a Brunswick bowling ball broke through the clouds and, travelling at an extremely high rate of speed, continued on its course directly toward Gurumayi then struck her directly on the head, knocking her to the ground and killing her. But now I'm puzzled. What do you think Freud would make of my dream?
>>" a Brunswick bowling ball broke through the clouds and, travelling at an extremely high rate of speed, continued on its course directly toward Gurumayi then struck her directly on the head, knocking her to the ground and killing her"<<<
Some folks are so hard-headed that it takes ALOT to wake them up! Exactly how big was that bowling ball?
Jody,
On other blogs such as Deconstructing SY, they are speculating that GM's long vacation is due to drug addiction - heroin or some other drug. I have to admit it sounds plausible to me. What do you think?
What do you think?
It's plausible, but so are a lot of other reasons. She may have developed social anxiety disorder, she may be fretting about her faded beauty, she may be tired of it all and lack the desire to go through with it again, or maybe she's feeling guilty for duping so many, and now she just wants to sulk off into obscurity. I find all of these to be as plausible as the drug addiction explanation.
It's plausible, but so are a lot of other reasons. She may have developed social anxiety disorder, she may be fretting about her faded beauty, she may be tired of it all and lack the desire to go through with it again, or maybe she's feeling guilty for duping so many, and now she just wants to sulk off into obscurity. I find all of these to be as plausible as the drug addiction explanation.
She was on a phased retirement plan years ago. Her retirement accounts had enough to sustain. The number of New Year's messages written and stored were the count down clock. She and the org managed to put on enough of a public facade to fool enough people to keep the circus tent up and running but just didn't bother to tell the public.
And yes, the duping of the public became quite a pesky problem with the advent of going live of the Internet. Too many people discovered what had taken place and the cover ups.
To Anonymous Dec 16, 10:53 - You state that Gurumayi "was on a phased retirement plan years ago". Really? When was that announced? How does it work? What happens when it's complete? Is it complete now? If so, shouldn't there be a successor? And, most importantly, could a REAL sadguru EVER retire? Would that be absurd? Thank you.
To Kyl who never got involved (because she's waaaay too smart for that BS.........)
With all the smiley faces and the LOLs methinks the lady doth protest too loudly.
I just read this thread through for the first time, and saw no anger or bitterness or lonliness in "first entity" (that's pretty funny actually). It just looked like an opinion about the garbage spewed about at some ashram that person may have attended at one time. Your posts, however, so quick to analyze and lump "anons" together, demand identities, etc., your LOL at all the other posts (or are you laughing at yourself?) seems a bit weird.
Good that you are just so much better than those who "gave away their power.....What is that????" to strange people. You must be so intelligent, so much better than all the people who have innocently been duped by crooks like this Guru Mayi (whom I never met, btw, and don't know her organization either).
My take? Guru Mayi is like all these other crooks, taking advantage of others. The possible fact that she may have been brainwashed and abused herself doesn't make it right for her to continue this with others, only understandable. Abused kids often grow up into parents who abuse their kids, etc. People like Guru Mayi should be in jail, as should her followers who participated in or condoned the abuse of people going with faith to her ashram.
Having faith is not idiocy. It can be misguided. Trusting a Guru to guide you correctly, and then that Guru turning out to be a fake/fraud, doesn't mean that the disciple was bad or wrong or even sometimes a fool. Sometimes the organization/Guru is just so slick, that people, however educated or self-assured, are sucked into something really nasty. It's not their fault. It's the fault of the Gurus and their close followers.
To the last anonymous...whoever you are...perhaps you are entity number 4 or 5. I can't be sure. When a number of anonymous posts are posted together it really is impossible to tell them apart. This is obviously helpful for the person who posts it if they really just wish to deride anything anyone else has to say without taking responsibility for it.
Really I don't disagree with your last paragraph. If you read my posts you will see that there was a process of learning unfolding for me here. I thought if I shared what I thought and felt there may have been some helpful discussion by other people who posted. This however is not what I experienced. Almost every other post since seems to have been motivated by spite. So yes I did see that there were bitter angry people out there responding to what I said and did not know the posts were from different entities.
I never wished to invalidate someones experiences and really apologise if this is how my thoughts were percieved.
I went to Siddha yoga after lots of life experience where I had been screwed over and ripped off and led astray by other people so I guess I had my eyes open. I do find it hard to beleive that other people didn't keeep vigilant themselves.
Perhaps these people had never been taken advantage of before??? Perhaps my earlier bad experiences in life have been a blessing.
It is sad. This whole affair. Its sad that people manipulate and misrepresnet themselves. It sad that we can't find harmony in religion. It's sad that people feel hard done by.
I don't know how you would feel (anonymous number ummm) but really it doesn't take much to upset the people who post here. I mean a smile and suddenly I'm perceived as some evil coercive Siddha loving passive aggressive.
If people who were sucked in by Siddha yoga don't admit at some point that they were foolish to give so much of themselves to other people and causes that proved corrupt later on, they will never grow through the experience and move on and learn to trust again.
Any relationship develops slowly over time and before you give yourself to anything you need to spend a long time scrutinising it as trust grows.
I am appalled by the inability of some ex-devotees to own there own stuff here. No matter how elaborate the con was, it was still untimately the individual who bought into it.
I really think that Gurumayi could be looked at from a number of perspectives. I wonder if she didn't snatch succession from her brother to avoid situation where Nityananda would do the same as Muktananda and have illicit sexual relationships with many female devotees. I wonder if her trauma over the behaviour of Muktananda didn't lead to her being extremely abusive to her brother. I wonder if she too wanted to beleive in the Siddha yoga message and carry that to her devotees without the sexual abuse. I wonder if she left ultimately because she couldn't stand the heat and BS anymore.
I don't know if I'm correct but really I feel better thinking this than thinking the worst of her or anyone for that matter.
I am sorry that people were abused and manipulated along the way. I am sorry that there seems to be no ideal that has ever successfully sustained humanity's need for safety and security and virtue.
Really I offered a different perspective to the forum and really in the end all I could do was smile at the aggressive way that it was received.
And yes last entity I do laugh at myself. I am not any more weird than the next person. I'm not sure if you're aware but text is emotionless and these symbols (LOL and :)) actually mean to be friendly not aggressive.
Cheers
:)
To Anonymous Dec 16, 10:53 - You state that Gurumayi "was on a phased retirement plan years ago". Really? When was that announced? How does it work? What happens when it's complete? Is it complete now? If so, shouldn't there be a successor? And, most importantly, could a REAL sadguru EVER retire? Would that be absurd? Thank you.
Siddha Yoga has not been known to be outright honest in publicly talking about its inner workings. I do not believe there will be a successor. Gurumayi will show up at enough noon chants surrounded by long time loyalists who never would think of asking her challenging questions about Siddha Yoga's unresolved past and cover ups. She'll meet the criteria for keeping SYDA as a non-profit in this way. She will be out of the picture for 99% of the activity going on otherwise. (Little legal loopholes to jump through is all it amounts to.)
If it were a REAL sadguru they may never retire. But since we are not talking about that here, the point is moot.
You're welcome.
I really think that Gurumayi could be looked at from a number of perspectives. I wonder if she didn't snatch succession from her brother to avoid situation where Nityananda would do the same as Muktananda and have illicit sexual relationships with many female devotees. I wonder if her trauma over the behaviour of Muktananda didn't lead to her being extremely abusive to her brother. I wonder if she too wanted to beleive in the Siddha yoga message and carry that to her devotees without the sexual abuse. I wonder if she left ultimately because she couldn't stand the heat and BS anymore.
Yes, that sure would explain why she gave her bro the boot and she and george afif went on to rule the kingdom, with afif sexually abusing female after female while the sis did nothing to stop him.
Interesting concept but flawed in its logic of outcome.
Hi kyl
If you're still reading this. A Sydney ashram attendee, eh? I probably know you. I've been going there for 25 yrs. I've spent loads of time with Gurumayi in person. Whatever she does in her personal life, I really don't know, but I do know that being around her in person has been a deeply uplifting & positive experience for me.
Hi another anonymous, re:
If you're still reading this. A Sydney ashram attendee, eh? I probably know you. I've been going there for 25 yrs. I've spent loads of time with Gurumayi in person. Whatever she does in her personal life, I really don't know, but I do know that being around her in person has been a deeply uplifting & positive experience for me.
You may know me. I keep a bit of a low profile at SY, however. I do know a number of people who attend SY from another organisation so we may know each other from anywhere.
I'm glad your experiences have been positive and uplifting. May I ask you a question (this is sincere I'm not attempted to have a go at you) How do you reconcile your positive expriences with the negative experiences told by others on websites such as this and leaving SY etc? I really have trouble with this and am concerned about patronising something that is questionable.
After some years of meditating I have started to have really uplifting experiences in meditation. Everytime my meditation goes to a different level it seems to begin at the ashram. Now I'm sort of thinking that I shouldn't go there at all because of the history of problems.
Thoughts???
Thanks
Kyl
this is my first time at this site as I googled 'Sweet surprise Gurumayi' to see what is happening with it.
It is so nice to see others thinking similar thoughts.
In a personally internal way the whole concept at Siddha has enveloped my being, then it has many holes in it through doubts, with the rumors and now her disappearing.
I still go, and as the person above (Kyl) stated, my experiences are always positive, but I lack that unquestioning faith I had initially, it's pretty significant for me.
apparently she showed???
The way i see things written here.. many of you have not been able to see that it is humnas who populate the ashrams' heirarchies and they have their frailities... we must focus on what we want out of the path...why let your attention get diverted? it is indeed very clear that you wish to somehow relate to that part of your spiritual experience which enthralled you with that part too which gives you creeps on listening to the stories of depravation and abuse...
it is a normal thing when you have unrealised beings controlling postions in SY.. but that does not mean the Guru is wrong or the content of the path is wrong... take what is right and disregard that which is wrong... focussing on the wrong will only waste your time and mislead your intentions.
When Jesus could not change the world from wrong-doings...how can you.. focus on your improvement and take that which is beneficial to you.. disregard the rest...
Cheers
MJ
it is a normal thing when you have unrealised beings controlling postions in SY.. but that does not mean the Guru is wrong or the content of the path is wrong...
No, you are wrong.
Being "realized" has little effect on managerial skills, and if a guru is not responsible for the social atmosphere at her ashram, she's not much of a guru in my book.
it is indeed very clear that you wish to somehow relate to that part of your spiritual experience which enthralled you with that part too which gives you creeps on listening to the stories of depravation and abuse...
I've never read such a transparent and distorted attempt to justifying your continuation in something that is clearly corrupt. You sound deluded. This is insane.
So we should ignore rapists and murderers and focus on our path without ever intervening.
This is a distorted mind. I hope you don't have children in your care.
gurumayi told us that she would not leave the throne. And yet that is what she did. Some people have commented that the place was getting too trendy for her and she decided to take it down and teach at a more intimate level, however it was the institution of siddha yoga that became trendy. The devotees tried to please and become more trendy with hints based upon outright comments from the top and the style of the leadership. They can't be blamed for the glamour and industrialization of this yoga. The direction towards commercialization started from the top. Then it pervaded. Either way, you can not tell devotees that you will be there for them as a guide as long as you live, and then just drop out without the devotees feeling deserted and let down. I
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