Guruphiliac: Sri Sri Infects The Internet



Thursday, May 08, 2008

Sri Sri Infects The Internet

File under: Satscams and The Siddhi of PR

Art of Living Kool-Aid distributors are working overtime to make Sri Sri Ravi Shankar more famous in the States with some viral internet popularity scamming. From a message sent on the U.S. AoL mailing list:
If we can have you and the people in your network (local satsang groups and other AOL networks) follow the simple steps below, we will have an EXTREMELY powerful marketing campaign for guruji on the internet.

If we can have a large group of people follow the steps below, we can have the links to articles/blogs on guruji, shoot right up to the homepage of the website of an extremely popular site digg.com. This is a very powerful way of marketing, as lots of people visiting digg.com would see it on the homepage.
But what of those who will see through this blatant gaming? AoL has a plan for that too!
There seem to be a lot of comments on the two articles listed below on digg.com. If you did digg it, then do remember to go back and give a "thumbs up" to the comments that are pro-Art of Living, and a "thumbs down" to those comments that are anti-Art of Living.

Also, it would better if the people who dugg the two articles also dugg a few more (random) articles as well, and made a few random comments on some other random articles as well, so as to camouflage this campaign, otherwise it becomes very transparent, if you read the comments. It should appear that we are just normal users of digg, if you understand what I mean.
Yes we do. You are dishonestly gaming the digg.com system to make a seemingly pathologically narcissistic guru even more pathologically narcissistic.

We hate to break it to you, but AoL's marketing campaigns have always been transparent, as clear as the air above Annapurna.  This attempt at ranking fraud is perfectly compatible with what AoL has been doing all along, which is to create a constant sensation around the rather hapless little man they are calling guru.

Labels: ,

49 Comments:

At 5/09/2008 2:42 PM, Blogger Yunus News said...

Call it coincidence or not, but right when i finish my own blog i check guruphiliac to post the link somewhere, i see this post. Couldn't think of a better post to attach it to.

So, please check out:
http://answeringaol.blogspot.com/

 
At 5/10/2008 2:11 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Jody,

I really admire your guts and fearlessness in expressing your opinions.

Once Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsar was invited to attend one such institution's * group meditation * classes.Gurudev patiently sat through and when at the end of it, asked to express His opinions bluntly said :

(Not the exact words as this was told to me by someone)
" I am reminded of the monkeys that sit silently atop the trees in Dakshineshwar waiting for the Prasad offered to Kali to be brought out. Then they reveal their true nature ....."

AOL's footsoldiers protest too much;)

 
At 5/10/2008 5:28 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Jody, my thinking is, the guru is always single handed, against a million people, democarcy is that where the majority rules, however stupid their ideologies are.

She she has not done anything much controversial, which is different from many gurus. Perhaps the only difference between a good and a bad guru can be that the good one refuses to comply with the crowd, deny what the disciples want, but the bad one finds it suitable and does exactly what the majority wants..do you have any inputs?

Ofcourse she she's self glorification of standing tall and naked etc is lunatic. I wanted to started a thread on this topic in your discussion forum but it appears too many clicks away. but must try sometime.

 
At 5/10/2008 8:37 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Jody,

You are talking as if you own the internet. If what you said is really taken from an email, why not post the entire email along with email header information so that people can check who is right?

You seem to conveniently ignore the good things that are done by AoL. Why?

Thank you,
Vasu Gokaraju
vasugokaraju.blogspot.com

 
At 5/10/2008 8:48 AM, Blogger guruphiliac said...

why not post the entire email along with email header information

Because I am protecting the privacy of my source, and that of the others whose email addresses appear in the header.

Besides, I could care less whether you believe I'm making this up. I'm not, my readers know it, and that's that. It would be another extremely weak AoL counterattack to propose this message didn't go out on its list when it clearly did.

You seem to conveniently ignore the good things that are done by AoL. Why?

If we opened the books and looked at exactly how much money was going to "good things," we'd be astonished at how much money is actually spent on the promotion of Sri Sri and AoL proper. The charity is just a diversion, something to make you believe your money will do something good other than buy more hair creme and man makeup for Sri Sri.

Finally, the fact that Sri Sri uses the idea that he is especially divine is such an utter rot on humanity than any small good that comes from AoL is drowned in the evil that springs from Sri Sri's ego.

 
At 5/11/2008 10:45 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The human mind is programmed. Undersatnding this (as actuality) ends the whole game.
No theory, philosophy or technique can lead you to be in that state. At the most, they can take you to the inquiry state, the journey beyond which is exclusive. No book, no teaching can go further. These can feed your inquiry. Once you yourself enquire into your own inner working, the function of the book is over. You take your own path. Till that time, you are simply gratified by books or teachers against your present state which you term as unsatisfactory.

Y V Chawla
http://www.fundamentalexpressions.com

 
At 5/11/2008 2:14 PM, Blogger Peggy Burgess said...

democarcy is that where the majority rules, however stupid their ideologies are.
a good and a bad guru can be that the good one refuses to comply with the crowd, deny what the disciple wants... bla bla blabity bla..

Just because SSRS is a panderer doesn't mean he is a democratic guru, running a democracy. this is just another way to take responsibility off Guru's , and to my way of thinking that 's why they get into trouble in first place , they get a pass on responsibility, And disciples who cop out and don't shoulder any responsibility are spineless jelly fish who let stuff go by because Of course Guru knows everything. I tell ya there is nothing worse than the smugness of people who feel they understand Guru's sovereignty. these are the shiny happy people with self satisfied mona lisa's on there mugs.

The thing i love about Democracy is it is the only system i have heard of that tries to allow for some kind of tolerance of disperate systems of thought, you.can't say that about the other cultural systems that humans have come up with, so as unholy and ordinary as that might make you feel, be grateful if you live in one. Feh!!

 
At 5/13/2008 1:51 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Jody: “Because I am protecting the privacy of my source”

Sounds like CIA. Since the source is protected for privacy reasons, one can say anything.


Jody: “Besides, I could care less whether you believe I'm making this up. I'm not, my readers know it, and that's that.”

Well, I am also one of your readers. Did you mean to say that “your FRIENDS know that you were not making up things”?

As you suggested, opening up their account books would show the facts. Please suggest if you know any sources on the web in this regard.

One more question. Are you only interested in pealing AoL OR can you also discuss about Christian organizations whose statements are quite opposite to their actions in India?


Thank you,
Vasu Gokaraju

 
At 5/13/2008 2:09 PM, Blogger guruphiliac said...

Sounds like CIA.

Or any newspaper reporter in this country. This isn't a law court, it's an opinion court. Mine. You don't believe the emails are real, too bad.

Did you mean to say that “your FRIENDS know that you were not making up things”?

Heh. I guess I did.

Please suggest if you know any sources on the web in this regard.

I don't. It's not my purview. Mine is to whine about big-time gurus.

Are you only interested in pealing AoL OR can you also discuss about Christian organizations whose statements are quite opposite to their actions in India?

This blog exists to attack the idea that gurus are somehow more divine than ordinary folk. As bad as many evangelical Christians can be, they never think they are God.

 
At 5/15/2008 3:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Jody, it is part of Hindu philosophy that God/divinity is in everything and everywhere, that is why Hindu Gurus say that and you know from your knowledge of Vedanta that this is true. SSRS to my knowledge has never claimed to be more special than anyone else and maintains that divinity is in everyone.

 
At 5/15/2008 3:30 PM, Blogger guruphiliac said...

SSRS to my knowledge has never claimed to be more special than anyone else and maintains that divinity is in everyone

Your knowledge is incomplete. He has claimed to be the divine incarnation of Krishna and Shiva. His organization pours thousands of gallons of Kool-Aid down the throats of those who believe he is a special divine being. Just because he might repudiate his divinity in one setting (public speaking) doesn't mean he isn't reinforcing the idea that he is God privately to close devotees, who spread that contagion down the line to the outer circles.

 
At 5/18/2008 6:08 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi, what ever is believed (and known)as to what SSRS has said about himself, who he was etc. - more important is: what he doesn't say.. He doesn't tell his devotees that they should NOT believe he is god, jesus, krishna, shiva etc. This is his responsibility, he is letting his devotees become deluded and he is essentially at fault. It takes very little time, before one can start to observe all kinds of weird beliefs within the organisation. When it comes to recruiting - they are trying hard, and they are often dishonest, but small uglinesses are overlooked as the mantra goes towards seva... any means, any effort to make people come for the course. But no effort what so ever is being spent on objective evaluation as to why all the course-participants seem to disappear all to quickly. If the course, with its teachings were so good as they claim, one would simply look to the obvious results. Many aol-people are no closer to finding what they seek, nor in personal life, nor in fulfilling their inital hopes for what it would give them... I would claim that any method, done with devotion, will produce result - and meditation is what (I believe) should be above all.. also to analyze, be with what is, look directly and question. AoL people do not question much.. and they do not look elsewhere - and only this should make the warning bells bang outside the door.. well aol is doing much good too, as it is making people smile and radiate with joy.. but that is for those who have not found other ways to be more happy.. - go on looking within - your TRUE GURU is waiting - as your original face or buddha-nature...

 
At 5/20/2008 11:13 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

All the Argentinians are crazy...only Guruphilliac is real...

one more accomplishment for Sri Sri...people on this blog can burn..


NEW DELHI: Taking his vision of 'Art of Living' to Argentinian politicians and business leaders, spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar addressed the country's Senate and a corporate gathering during a six-day visit to the Latin American nation.

"Decision-makers need to be free from stress to come up with great ideas and work well," he said in his address to the Senate of Argentina.

The Vice President of Argentina and President of the Senate Julio Cobos honoured Sri Sri Ravi Shankar with a citation for his organisation Art of Living Foundation's "exceptional work" in Argentina in the last 17 years.

Apart from spiritual courses and training programmes, 'Art of Living' is also involved in imparting education to underprivileged children, organising free medical camps, youth programmes and stress elimination workshops in the Latin American country, a release from the organisation said.

Speaking at a conference on corporate ethics and human values attended by over 1,600 business leaders and eminent people in Buenos Aires, the Indian spiritual guru highlighted the need for spirituality to strengthen the four pillars of a society -- politics, business, academics and religion.

During the course of his visit, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar also visited the country's largest prison, one of the 26 jails where the Art of Living has been conducting its transformational prison programmes. "Inside every culprit, there is a victim crying for help. If you heal the victim, they will not be criminals any more," he stressed

 
At 5/20/2008 11:28 AM, Blogger guruphiliac said...

people on this blog can burn

I'd rather burn with the clarity of a proper analysis rather than buy such obvious PR drivel.

Keep drinking that Kool-Aid and watch your mind wash right into the sewer of AoL cultdom.

 
At 5/20/2008 5:34 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"I'd rather burn with the clarity of a proper analysis rather than buy such obvious PR drivel"

How can you analyze "something" if you do not have a first hand experience with "something". You are definitely not a "science students"...from your arguments I can figure out..

can you tell us about your firsthand associations and experiences with AOL if you have had any?

 
At 5/20/2008 5:42 PM, Blogger guruphiliac said...

How can you analyze "something" if you do not have a first hand experience with "something".

An analysis of AoL propaganda does not require a "first hand experience" to understand that they inflate the extent of their charitable activities for marketing effect.

Were they truly a charitable organization, they'd keep their good deeds to themselves and quietly work for the betterment of mankind without taking every opportunity they can grab to brag about it.

 
At 5/20/2008 8:22 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Jody!

Your arguments and debating capacity remind me of my 10th grade debates...you make statements without knowing what they mean...

"An analysis of AoL propaganda does not require a "first hand experience" to understand that they inflate the extent of their charitable activities for marketing effect"

Can you explain what do you mean be the word "analysis". How are you analysing the propaganda? Are there any standard and set parameters to analyse different types of propaganda's?

your blog is a very good idea of marketing and earning money...I am taking you as my "blog guru" doesn't matter if you accept it or not....ah...what did i just say...does this mean you will now start being your own philiac?

 
At 5/20/2008 8:30 PM, Blogger guruphiliac said...

How are you analysing the propaganda?

Simply by the fact that Sri Sri and AoL take every opportunity to parade their supposed good works in front of the press, rather than quietly helping with no thought of self, as Krishna recommends in the Gita.

 
At 5/20/2008 10:35 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

which verse of bhagwad geeta talks about quietly helping? Rather it asks arjuna to do "loksanchaya" like the king Janaka..

"No thought of self" is a different story? How can you know what Sri Sri thinks?

Do you have a siddhi of reading minds? If not can you not be wrong?

:-P

 
At 5/20/2008 10:37 PM, Blogger guruphiliac said...

How can you know what Sri Sri thinks?

Because he is constantly braying to the press about himself and his org's alleged achievements.

 
At 5/21/2008 2:42 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am interupting your no-good conversation which is goin nowhere.. : ) The AoL bragging is absolutely a fact, I have never seen so much bragging anywhere else in my life, and the bragging seem to be covering up something which is not worth bragging about. Why all this about AoL doing good? I have seen "closely" many frustrated and stessed out people around Sri Sri.. he himself even looks a bit stressed. The hype and locomotion is on the verge of madness... the "blindess" and the level of acceptance towards the hype is clouded in a monsoon of beliefs that ALL HE DOES is so good. Jody, could you pls. make a link of what good does he do... because I am really wondering about it, as my personal direct contact with the organisation is of many twisted-beliefs that "the goodness" is ABSOLUTE, but yet it is not happening where the money comes from: f.ex. European cities.. maybe UK and US has local programmes and can show the goodness, but what about East-Europe, South-Europe, North-Europe etc. Why isn't AoL making proofs as to their good-doings? - make it authentic, make it REAL, show to everyone what is actually being done in the local community, make reports, publish it on the websites. A Canadian Ashram I know of is contstantly doing proven good for their locals. AoL centres around are blindly sending off their money to INdia, no doubting the good of it is benefitting the whole humankind. If not on an apparant physical level, at least on a deep INVISIBLE spiritual level, saving the "drowning" unhappy, depressed people into the waves of joy and bliss, as soon as one becomes a member. Yet this member thing is a way of separating onesself from sound-judgment from connecting more deeply with ones being in the long run... sooner than later the whole indoctrination starts, slowly, gently all thoughts are directed towards the Guru! - one starts to separate from all other teachings and other forms of truths, even the ability to objectively see (acknowledge) for ones self becomes clouded by the magnificense of someone travelling the planet in a white outfit!! Tell me, is the hype and bragging meant to have everyone become member of the Art Of Living: ONE WORLD FAMILY.. Don't you all see the madness in uncritically adoring ONE-LIVING-PERSON in white (who will die like all of us). Get a grip!! It is damn scary..

 
At 5/21/2008 11:10 AM, Blogger guruphiliac said...

why are you not approving all the comments

Because I'm filtering idiocy.

 
At 5/21/2008 8:08 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Don't you all see the madness in uncritically adoring ONE-LIVING-PERSON in white (who will die like all of us)"

Dear Anon---

there is just one "one" , there is no two... it doesnt matter who you adore as long as you adore..you can do that to anyone...

whats wrong with bragging?bragging is so much fun..try doing that sometimes :-P

 
At 5/21/2008 8:10 PM, Blogger guruphiliac said...

whats wrong with bragging?

It reveals the ulterior motive, which is name and fame rather than to actually help. The helping is just a side effect of the promotion.

 
At 5/22/2008 12:49 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Bragging is drugging!!
If someone started to adore and bragg about me like people do before His Holiness Sri Sri R.S., it would feel sickening, it would bring out the worst in me. Haven't you ever observed that? You might not actually love back your adorers, but rather despise them (secretly). If Sri Sri had acted more like Yogananda, who was far more humble, far more genuine - + someone who did me 108 times more good...

"It does not matter who? you adore.." Yes, it does to me, I do not adore someone "who" (who does so much good in the world of duality)- who knows, maybe even Hitler did good? I personally don't think so, but who am I to know for sure. I adore that which IS beyond form in all-there-is.. and it is far less draining!! The love around Sri Sri is one pointed, towards HIM - why not put a Swami on his seat, and have Sri Sri take off for a holiday.. :) :)
It is possible to love someone, and still point towards their "wrongdoings" - just like a mother/father would never accept everything their child is DOING.. Maybe Sri Sri has gone off the path into the wilderness after to much adoration - I believe he is more relaxed around those who treat him in a normal way. Period.

 
At 5/22/2008 12:58 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi again and by the way,
I think Jody is doing good by allowing comments of the guru craze.. Surely doing wrong too, towards all the idol-worshippers around. So it is all good and no-good. It is all relative in the world of duality.. Sooo, go where the opposites unite, go beyond, where all conflicts melt into N(ONE)...

 
At 5/22/2008 12:43 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"It reveals the ulterior motive, which is name and fame rather than to actually help. The helping is just a side effect of the promotion"

whats wrong with having a motive for name and fame? Are you sure you dont have it jody? Its such a natural human tendency....why Should Sri Sri or anyone around him should not have it? or do you consider them superhuman?

 
At 5/22/2008 12:46 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"I adore that which IS beyond form in all-there-is.. and it is far less draining"

I think on an average people would find this draining...but if can do it..you are doing great :-P

 
At 5/22/2008 5:10 PM, Blogger guruphiliac said...

whats wrong with having a motive for name and fame?

Ask Ramakrishna Paramhamsa about name and fame.

 
At 5/23/2008 3:38 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

where can I find Ramakrishna Paramhansa?

Can you recommend some Guru(who you think is good and genuine) whos alive , I will go and ask him :-P

 
At 5/23/2008 3:56 PM, Blogger guruphiliac said...

I will go and ask him

If you don't recognize what is wrong with the desire for name and fame – all as you call yourself "Swami" – then there is no guru in the world who can help you.

 
At 5/23/2008 4:52 PM, Blogger guruphiliac said...

whats wrong with having a motive for name and fame?

It belies a lack of spiritual development.

Are you sure you dont have it jody?

I'd be lying if I said I didn't want my voice heard. But relying on peoples' notions that I am somehow more divine than they – pissing all over the truth of the Upanishads in the process – is just about the lowest form of carnival barker bullshit I can think of for a "guru" to use.

Its such a natural human tendency

The tendency is for positive mirroring. In the presence of a narcissistic character disorder, ordinary mirroring from friends and family can't suffice as a source. Like a heroin addict who started with the highest quality product, Sri Sri has to seek more and more adulation from greater and greater sources. That's why he sulks around the halls of power in various countries. It's also the lust behind the push for a Nobel. It would be the quickest way to PR nirvana, that ubiquitous press coverage the man so obviously craves and that his org is constantly orchestrating for him.

why Should Sri Sri or anyone around him should not have it?

Were Sri Sri the simple man of truth he comports himself to be, he'd have absolutely no need for it.

or do you consider them superhuman?

Certainly not. More like clever, avaricious and manipulative.

 
At 5/23/2008 5:03 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"If you don't recognize what is wrong with the desire for name and fame – all as you call yourself "Swami" – then there is no guru in the world who can help you"

Ah! This is my bad luck!

But still, say ,if i wanted to see a real Guru, to whom and where should i go?

 
At 5/23/2008 5:31 PM, Blogger guruphiliac said...

to whom and where should i go?

To that one who is within.

 
At 5/25/2008 11:38 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

To that one who is within

What if I have no idea of who is within and what if i do not have any idea about how to go there?

Have you already been there?

 
At 5/25/2008 12:34 PM, Blogger guruphiliac said...

Have you already been there?

There is not a single, solitary being alive who is not there right now.

Damn, Swami! For a swami, you don't know shit.

 
At 5/25/2008 4:42 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"There is not a single, solitary being alive who is not there right now"

what about the beings who are not alive? like the stones rocks etc? what if i dont know where "there" is? how did you find it out? has everyone on the planet already found it?

my questions involved "what if", however you assumed things and gave a verdict that "i dont know ..." how do you know that my real name is not swami? and that i am claiming to be a swami? you just assume! too many assumptions?

why would someone not think that this whole blog is your big assumption?

 
At 5/25/2008 5:10 PM, Blogger guruphiliac said...

what about the beings who are not alive? like the stones rocks etc?

What about 'em? They're doing their thing and I'm leaving them to it.

what if i dont know where "there" is?

Making it a "there" is your first mistake.

how did you find it out?

I saw there was no "there" to get to, that it's always right here.

has everyone on the planet already found it?

No, but that doesn't mean they are any less the same stuff that any fauxru using nondual truth to place themselves on a holiness pedestal is made of.

how do you know that my real name is not swami?

I have no idea what your name is, save for what you are calling yourself here. Thus, I assume you are a swami and snap my fingers at you because you appear to be ignorant of simple Vedantic truths.

you just assume!

It's a fair assumption given what you are calling yourself here.

why would someone not think that this whole blog is your big assumption?

They are free and clear, and quite welcome to do so!

 
At 5/25/2008 8:57 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"I saw there was no "there" to get to, that it's always right here"

too good! hopefully this is not just a concept for you.

do u experience it? are you always in the present moment?

"What about 'em? They're doing their thing and I'm leaving them to it"

the "I" and "they" in your statement..is this in accordance with simple vedantic truths? uhh did i just score a point here :-P

 
At 5/25/2008 9:09 PM, Blogger guruphiliac said...

hopefully this is not just a concept for you.

No one can know what another knows experientially.

do u experience it?

I can only be a fool who thinks he knows.

are you always in the present moment?

Who is there to be in any moment?

the "I" and "they" in your statement..is this in accordance with simple vedantic truths?

They are in accord with the conventions of speech, which is what is occurring in this present moment. The Self doesn't talk, because it has nothing to say. Those who say they speak for God have their heads up their asses, because God Who is within knows only one thing, Himself.

So, coming up with convoluted syntaxes minus personal pronouns as a way to front some faux jnana are not in the playbook around here.

uhh did i just score a point here :-P

Sorry, Swami. Not quite. But please keep trying when you are inspired.

 
At 5/26/2008 10:45 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ah! So we have different rules here!

When I say "what if i dont know where "there" is?" Its a mistake...but when you say "I" and "they" its in accord with conventions of speech?

Self doesnt talk? :-P thats funny!It has nothing to say? thats even more funny!

So whats the purpose of "self"...what is it doing...please enlighten me O vedantic master!

"because God Who is within knows only one thing, Himself"

uhh your God is so unknowing and ignorant:-P..it knows only "one" thing! Are you trying to separate God from everything else? This is again a violation of vedanta and gives me one more point!

 
At 5/26/2008 3:48 PM, Blogger guruphiliac said...

When I say "what if i dont know where "there" is?" Its a mistake...but when you say "I" and "they" its in accord with conventions of speech?

You are making an ever-present, ongoing reality something that you get to, rather than something that is never not here. That is incorrect. I am merely using pronouns properly as a matter of the course of speech. To play by your rules, we couldn't be talking anymore.

Self doesnt talk? :-P thats funny!It has nothing to say? thats even more funny!

The Atman is perfectly content in its own nature. It doesn't know anything other than itself because it doesn't need to know anything other than itself.

So whats the purpose of "self"...what is it doing...please enlighten me O vedantic master!

The Atman shines in all as the source of all awareness.

uhh your God is so unknowing and ignorant

Why know stuff when you don't need to?

Are you trying to separate God from everything else?

No, I'm saying that God as Brahman does not cognate or consider, He just shines as pure consciousness. All the rest of the show is an expression of that consciousness worked by the hands of the Mahashakti, that other aspect of God that comprises the physical universe. She doesn't think either. She just acts. She's crazy like that.

Brahman and Shakti are like fire and its heat or like water and its wetness.

This is again a violation of vedanta and gives me one more point!

You are still at zero, Swami. Keep trying.

 
At 5/27/2008 2:28 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"You are making an ever-present, ongoing reality something that you get to, rather than something that is never not here"

What does this sentence mean?

"No, I'm saying that God as Brahman does not cognate or consider"

I accept your apologies for not being clear in your earlier post.

Brahman and Mahashakti: two aspects of GOD? Oh did you say "two"...but vedanta says its all one? You gave me one more point.

 
At 5/27/2008 2:45 PM, Blogger guruphiliac said...

What does this sentence mean?

That the reality of the Atman is not modified by ignorance. Thus, there is no "there" to get to. It's always right here, right now, whether or not we think we know it.

I accept your apologies for not being clear in your earlier post.

I'm certainly not perfect, but then, maybe you've got something stuck in your "ear."

Brahman and Mahashakti: two aspects of GOD? Oh did you say "two"

No, Swami. I said "that other aspect." The "two" is all on you.

...but vedanta says its all one?

Is fire separate from its power to burn?

You gave me one more point.

You keep trying to take those points, yet I've still got them all in my hand.

 
At 5/27/2008 5:04 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Is fire separate from its power to burn?"

Oh yes it is! The power to burn depends on what it is burning, it's relative! The same amount of fire may have different powers to burn different substances!

You cannot compare fire and its power to burn with brahman!

when you say "other aspect"you have dwindled into the world of duality!

" Thus, there is no "there" to get to. It's always right here, right now, whether or not we think we know it"
How do you know this? by experience or did someone tell you?

A very important question for you.

Do you meditate?

 
At 5/27/2008 6:28 PM, Blogger guruphiliac said...

The power to burn depends on what it is burning, it's relative!

You are unfairly extending the metaphor. Fire brings heat, period.

You cannot compare fire and its power to burn with brahman!

But you can understand that the unmanifested and the manifested are one, yet can also be considered as aspects described by the fire simile.

when you say "other aspect" you have dwindled into the world of duality!

There is no escape from "duality", Swami, at least in terms of any discussion we could have. There will always be a me, a you and the words we are throwing at one another in this context. These clumsy attempts to impose facile concepts of the nondual score no points.

Ramakrishna said: "Brahman and Shakti are like fire and its power to burn." That makes sense to me.

How do you know this?

How does a bird know he can fly?

by experience or did someone tell you?

I will never be anything more than just some jerk who thinks he knows.

Do you meditate

Swami, as much as you may desire otherwise, this isn't going to become about me. I am disgusted by any guru who uses the idea of their special divinity to put themselves on a pedestal. Sri Sri is an egregious offender in this regard, making him one of many subjects for this blog, I suspect for a long time to come.

 
At 5/28/2008 11:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Swami, as much as you may desire otherwise, this isn't going to become about me"

So you dont meditate! what does vedanta say about meditation...if you believe and quote so much vedanta why dont you follow what it says?

you are such a hypocrite and even worse than the followers of a false guru! they atleast follow what they believe!

By posting false propagada on your blog you are doing much more harm to the society than what a false guru would do!

you need to get a life and perhaps a girlfriend :-P

 
At 5/28/2008 11:18 AM, Blogger guruphiliac said...

So you dont meditate!

Tsk, tsk. Who is assuming now? I did not say that I didn't meditate, I said this wasn't going to be about me, which is what your meditation question attempts to accomplish.

Just to set the record straight, I am initiated member of a Vedantic lineage based in India since the late 1980s, having been a lifelong contemplative up to that point, continuing to this day. Meditation is not an activity for me, it's an ongoing revelation operating in every facet of my life. I find it quite amusing how quickly you jumped off into assumptionland in your fervent attempt to discredit me.

what does vedanta say about meditation...if you believe and quote so much vedanta why dont you follow what it says?

Watch as the Swami walks out on the plank of his own manufacture.

you are such a hypocrite and even worse than the followers of a false guru! they atleast follow what they believe!

Closer to the edge he gets. It's a precipice, but on he walks, blind as ever.

By posting false propagada on your blog you are doing much more harm to the society than what a false guru would do!

See him sail into the ocean off the side of the boat. The sharks grin with glee at the thought of their fresh, new meal.

you need to get a life and perhaps a girlfriend :-P

Life I have. Girlfriends come and go.

It's been fun watching you impale yourself on your exceedingly weak defense of Sri Sri, which was little more than an attempt to cast aspersions on me. I can hardly wait to hear how this supposed triumph over my "false propaganda" plays to the AoL Kool-Aid drunks.

 
At 4/11/2010 6:21 PM, Anonymous Detective said...

I was a AOL member here in New Zealand for some years. The NZ chapter of AOl is rife with secrecy, power politics, and bitchiness. I used to think it was an isolated case, but I have recently learned that it is world wide. I used to wonder why Sri Sri would tolerate such lack of transparency in AOL here, and why he didn't get rid of some of the less than honest people who run the organisation here. Now I wonder no more.

Thanks for this blog. It takes a bit of guts to be a whistleblower, and it is true...Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a shameless self promoter. A charlatan really. I wondered if "Swami" might be him actually.

 

Post a Comment

<< Home