Luther McKinney passed away

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Dev Unregistered User (2/4/02 8:01 am) Reply	Luther McKinney passed away Luther passed away Sunday morning, Feb 3rd. Funeral arrangements are yet to be made. I know many of us knew him to be a wonderful and devotional man. Edited by: srfwalrus at: 9/5/02 4:13:17 pm
Kriyaman Unregistered User (2/7/02 10:03 pm) Reply	Luther McKinney Video I never met Luther personally, but I corresponded with him and spoke with him on the phone once. He was a great soul. Somehow I received his video. He requested that it not be shown until after his passing. In fact, I was looking for it recently and didn't find until after I heard that he passed away last week. It was an inspiring video. The best way of the describing him at 91 is that he w like as a black Dr Lewis. He looks so much like Dr Lewis in a African-American body that it was astounding! He told the story on the video of how he came to SRF and how he met Doctor on his first visit from New York in 1955. Luther saw Doctor giving a Sunday Service at the Hollywood Church. As Luther walked in late, Doctor stoppped his lecture, saying "Excuse me I need to speak with you sir afterwards the service." Luther thought, "I never met this man in my life, what does he want with me?" Afterward the service, Doctor came to Luther and said, "You are one of Master's own." They spoke for a time about things, then Doctor healed Luther on the spot of a chronic sinus condition by placing his hand on his forehead. Luther said from that day forward he never had that problem again. He and Doctor were always close friends from that moment on. I am sure they are having a good time together now with Master in the astral world. The stories of his life that he told on the video were very inspiring. Does anyone know of any Blacks who are actually Monks in the order at SRF? I know there are a number of lay people who are meditation group leaders, but do you know of any Monks or Nuns in the order? Just curious. I'm interested in developing a website for the African American devotees of Master. Maybe this video will be the first to go on it? It's certainly something for the whole world to see. Luther Mc Kinney was a great soul and touched thousands of devotees with his love for Master.
Kriyaman Unregistered User (2/7/02 10:20 pm) Reply	Luther McKinney Video I never met Luther personally, but I corresponded with him and spoke with him on the phone once. He was a great soul. Somehow I received his video, but he requested that it not be shown until after his passing. In fact, I was looking for it recently and didn't find until after I heard that he passed away last week. It was an inspiring video. The best way of the describing him at 91 is that he was like a black Dr Lewis. He looked so much like Dr Lewis, in a African-American body, that it was astounding! It reminded me of the stories of how Master would come into Rajasi's body act through him. I never met Doctor, but Luther definitely has his vibration. On the video, Luther tells the story of how he came to SRF and how he met Doctor on his first visit from New York in 1955. Luther saw Doctor giving a Sunday Service at the Hollywood Church. As Luther walked in late, Doctor stoppped his lecture and said, "Excuse me, I need to speak with you, sir, afterwards." Luther thought, "I never met this man in my life, what does he want with me?" Afterthe s ervice, Doctor came to Luther and said, "You are one of Master's own." They spoke for a time about his life and his study of the Lessons. Before departing, Doctor healed Luther on the spot of a chronic sinus condition by placing his hand on his forehead. Luther said from that day forward he never had that problem again. He and Doctor were always close friends from that moment on. The spent many long hours meditating together whenever Luther visited for the Convocation. I am sure they are both having a good time together now in the astral world with Master . Does anyone know of any Blacks who are actually Monks in the order at SRF? I know there are a number of lay people who are meditation group leaders, but do you know of any Monks or Nuns in the order? Just curious. I'm interested in developing a website for the African American devotees of Master. Maybe this video will be the first to go on it? It's certainly something for the whole world to see. Luther Mc Kinney was a great soul and touched thousands of devotees with his love for our Guru.
Crog Unregistered User (2/8/02 6:40 am) Reply	Great Soul Luther was truely a wonderful devotee and wonderful example of everything Master teaches.
Lobo Registered User (2/8/02 9:36 pm) Reply	Re: Lurther McKinney @#%$ away I don't know who Luther McKinney is/was. Could someone please add some information that will bring me up to date? I read the story down a couple of posts regarding Mr. McKinney and Dr. Lewis. Very inspiring. Was he a monastic?
African Unregistered User (2/9/02 9:20 am) Reply	African American monastics There aren't too many. This probably makes a few of the racist-leaning monastics more more comfortable. I have not heard of racism in the Board, but there are a few power-based monastics who are definitely mighty white. They get a little nervous around blacks and tend to label them pretty quickly.
KS Registered User (2/9/02 4:09 pm) Reply	Ashamed I am so ashamed I don’t even want to share the details myself. Does anyone want to give any of the stories of the monk in charge of monk’s personnel?
Kriyaman Unregistered User (2/9/02 9:34 pm) Reply	Who was Luther McKinney? Luther McKinney lived for the passed 32 years in the SRF Hollywood Compound as a devote SRF lay disciple. In was very close with the Lewis's and Durga Mata. He held regular private meditation in his home in the compound and the likes of Dennis Weaver and other actors in the Hollywood SRF croud attended these sessions. Before moving out West from New York City, he was a center leader there for a time. On the video, he describes how the prejudice toward him was so bad in Manhattan that it was recommended by some for him to start something in Brooklyn in which he did. That center, apparently from his description, became so popular that people came to that visit it from around the world in order to connect with Master's teachings through Luther. He inspired many people in SRF with his simple devotion. I heard that they had his 90th Birthday celebration at Mt Washington. He passed away at 95. I never met him, but I heard that he was close with many Monks including Kriyananda, who said to me once that he was sorry that Luther had experienced so much prejudice while in SRF.
Lobo Registered User (2/9/02 10:58 pm) Reply	Re: Who was Luther McKinney? Thanks Kriyaman. Is the Luther McKinney video you refer to going to be made public? I, of course, would love to see it. If it is could you please post the information. Regarding the actors at Hollywood I once sat behind James Arness (Gunsmoke) at a Friday night meditation at Hollywood. He appeared to be with Brenda Lewis and her husband. Again thanks.
Kriyaman Unregistered User (2/10/02 7:09 pm) Reply	Shame? I am curious about what you know about the monks personnel person. Is there some understood racial baises that they person promotes supported by the organization? Why do you feel so shameful that you should request that someone else talk about it? What is it that you are afraid say on this issue?
NewBoy Unregistered User (2/11/02 1:18 pm) Reply	Luther McKinney Video If this video can be purchased, please let us all know. Regarding African-American monastics, only Sister Gita seems to get photographed for the SRF magazine. During Master's life, a young African-American monk named Vance Milligan lived at MW. There's a picture of him at the Lake Shrine in "Paramahansa Yogananda: In Memoriam." He went on to become a Baptist minister in Ohio where he was from I've been told. He did this with Master's blessing reportedly.
Carbohydramoy Unregistered User (2/22/02 11:01 am) Reply	Luther . . Thanks for the posting regarding Luther. I knew him many years ago, when he first came around Hollywood temple. He seemed a fine man, devoted and dedicated. I spoke with him on several occassions. I have also known several African-American members, many of them, like Gloria, Curtis, etc. are truly some of the kindest and humbleist souls that I have ever met. I have known Toddsy (aka Dennis (or was it David?) White, Satyananda) for many years and, although I have always thought poorly of him for many reasons,I have never seen a racist streak in him.
AumBoy Registered User (2/25/02 4:37 pm) Reply	Re: African American monastics pub78.ezboard.com/fsrfwal...D=21.topic
Dig Unregistered User (3/7/02 2:00 pm) Reply	Luther McKinney I knew Luther ever since '75 years and not give and not let them have sport Go to God Christ and Gurus he was a wonderful devotee and his politics were so right on... he really did know his politics. that's probally why he never got in the ashram. but i'm sure they don't care that much for our black brothers and sisters. Luther told me once that ramananda(philip), notice the resemblence to shyamananda, when they knew each other in New York that ramananda told Luther that he didn,t want any one to know that they knew each other. what kind of nonsence is that? consider the source (ramananda)!!! also luther told me to never go to any of the monastics for any councilling and never tell them your real troubles because they will only gossip about the devotees... it's just some sport for them . so i have taken luther's advice all these years and not to become sport for some of these folks God Christ Gurus that's who you take it to Luther McKinney FOREVER Jagadish someone told me after he died that alot of people could'nt stand his kirtans I told him that Luther was the real bonafide thing and that the real tragidy of SRF kirtans is that they let these waspy white folks try to lead devotional chanting and all they end up doing is "showboating" Luther was a one in a billion
Dig Unregistered User (3/7/02 2:11 pm) Reply	Luther McKinney I made a mistake in the first sentence I've known Luther since '75 and i meant to say not to become sport for a bunce of monastics and go to God Christ and the Gurus
desert Unregistered User (3/7/02 2:32 pm) Reply	Brother Ramananda I keep hearing negative things about Ramananda. I don't know him well, I've only seen him once or twice. Could you tell us more about him?
premdas Registered User (3/7/02 9:21 pm) Reply	Re: Brother Ramananda There have been 2 threads the last 3 months on Ramananda, but I can't remember where.... Good Luck!
unmonked Unregistered User (3/9/02 12:57 pm) Reply	Luther Knew Luther briefly when he lived in Hwd. near the Temple. Someone who knew him well said he had retired as a railroad porter and then made the move out to S. Calif. In back of the Hwd Temple, they used to have a small garden--flowers and I remember a fig tree. Being too cheap to buy flowers, I once stopped in the garden to pick a flower for Master's birthday or mahasamdhi service which I was on my to, 1970ish. Luther walked by, on his way to the service, laughed when he saw what I was doing, and said, "Pickin' Master's flowers just to give them back to him!" Never forgot that. Bro. Ramananda I have not seen for quite awhile, so don't know recent stuff (last saw him when he preached and was minister at the Lake Shrine). He was on the fast track when I was in the ashram 30 years ago. I seem to recall that he used to be in PR or advertising in New York, or something like that. "A brain," another monk once called him. Was very close to Daya Mata. Personally, I was scared to death of him. He once gave an interesting class to some monks on Thomas Merton who I'd just started secretly reading (Contemplation in a World of Action was essential in helping me decide to leave the ashram). At least at the time, giving a class to SRF monks on Thomas Merton seemed to me to show some ability to think outside the box. Again, that was a long time ago.
soulcircle Registered User (5/11/02 2:13 am) Reply	Re: Shame? Believe me, I have stuck my neck out many a time in the larger world and srf world...yet I understand KS! ... for more about me, see teachings>>no social activities. There I ask for help. The terror I ran into unexpectedly (after decade deep within srf) at the hands of a same or similar (similar in regards to KS's reference) "fellow" monastic or two, has me still shaking...
gardendiva Registered User (5/11/02 12:18 pm) Reply	Luther I remember Luther from when I lived next door to Hollywood temple, back in the early eighties. He was a very, very sweet man. Actually, I really enjoyed the meditations in his apartment, even more than the temple meditations. There was always a feeling of deep comraderie there. And then, I can't remember exactly if it was Thanksgiving or what, he would have a wonderful potluck once a year and make his sweet potato pie. It's devotees like this who are a true inspiration....
chela be4 Registered User (5/13/02 4:05 pm) Reply	Re: Luther To Kriyaman you mentioned you had a video tape of Luther and wanted to set up a web site for it. Have you done so? I would really love to see this tape. You can email me if you prefer. Much Love ChelaB4

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