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SRF Walrus > Messages to Mother Center > Letter to Bro Vishwananda
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Borg108 Registered User (2/19/03 6:01 pm) Reply	Letter to Bro Vishwananda Under Purpose of Board, Astral 7 Banned, chela2020 and I were discussing the possibility of writing a collective letter to Bro Vishwananda, who has allegedly said that he would like to receive feedback and suggestions from SRF members. Why don't we do it? There's not much to lose from going through the effort, and it might be interesting and even fun to do. I don't know if things are still done this way in the colony (probably are, since as I was once told "We've been doing things this way for 50 years and see no reason to change now"), but FOR reports are what they are used to seeing there. These stand for facts, opinions and recommendations. We would probably get a better reception by conforming to this framework that is familiar to them. I suggest that people submit ideas in these three categories. IMO, we should try to not overwhelm them with every issue (yes, they are overwhelming), but rather try to pick our battles as those issues/ideas that need the most attention and/or that would be easiest for them to accept. A few of us (any volunteers?) could then draft a letter to be reviewed here, then sent to Bro Vishwananda and posted permanently on the site. Since I think we would get the best reception by not being too confrontational, I suggest that chela 2020 be one of the letter writers, since she has a kind and gentle way of writing. Another idea is to mention in the letter that some of us who still attend SRF services will be placing flowers instead of monetary offerings into the donation baskets until the members get access to SRF financial statements, and we are given a say as to how our donations are used. After awhile, questions will get asked and word should get out about all these flowers showing up in the donation baskets. Let the fun begin... Edited by: Borg108 at: 2/20/03 10:48:18 am
chela2020 Registered User (2/19/03 6:30 pm) Reply	Re: Letter to Bro Vishwananda Borg, My idea is to begin listing a things that really bother us and have caused us to leave, and not go with the petty things. We have to remember that no organization is perfect. If I were to list one theme that I see reoccuring over and over again on this board it is SRF's lack of openness. People tend to feel that they are secret about things, and this leads others to mistrust SRF. Things that caused me to mistrust SRF are: 1. Not hearing about Ben's and Nerode's allegations against Yogananda until after the newspaper printed them. But I think SRF did a great job with this last DNA test, and so I commend them for this. Now lets have some proof that the other allegations against Yogananda are false. 2. Editing parts in the Autobiography of a Yogi and saying that Yogananda wanted them changed, but showing no proof, and re-editing them again years later, which proves that certain changes were not the idea of Yogananda. The items edited are things that show that SRF desires control over the kriya teachings, etc. But again, I commend SRF for the many books that they have printed that have little editing done to them. 3. Devotees in SRF are afraid to openly have the original writings by Yogananda, and so they pass them around secretly. They should not have to feel a need to do this? Therefore, my belief is that SRF should make original writings available to Yogananda's devotees, just as they did with the Whispers book. Or at least not say things to make any devotee feel guilty when they obtain such writings. Seeing such writings would help devotees to be less suspicious of SRF's editing department. 5. Trusting the devotees enough to be open and honest with them in all matters that are important. 6. Considering the devotees intelligent enough to be able to read religious books outside of those printed by SRF, without trying to make them feel guilty for doing so or telling them that the information will confuse them. This includes making any devotee feel guilty for attending a church or temple of their choice. 7. Giving Kriya to anyone who has taken the lessons but who continues to go to the church or temple of their choice. 8. Listening to the devotees when they have problems with the organization or anyone in the organization.
username Registered User (2/19/03 6:42 pm) Reply	Re: Letter to Bro Vishwananda Announcement at the temples and meditation centers that there are higher levels of kriya and what you need to do to get them. A know people who have been at SRF for 20 years and don't know this!
Borg108 Registered User (2/19/03 11:51 pm) Reply	Re: Letter to Bro Vishwananda Secretiveness, mistrust and lack of information are major problems within SRF. For example, many devotees very active in the work didn't even know about the Ananda lawsuit until it had been going on for years and millions had already been spent on it. Others who were told Brother Arjunananda had taken a leave of absence form monastic life were shocked to learn of the true story when it came out in the newspaper years later. Most disturbing of all, perhaps, is the information on how SRF spent millions on the peoplesoft accounting and control system and caused a deep rift in the organization and led many to feel that SRF is being managed by and for the benefit of attorneys and accountants. The Mt Washington expansion fiasco is a further example of misspent resources and putting organizational self interest above the needs of others. Other examples along the lines of the lack of openness, honesty, and acceptance are history being altered by airbrushing people out of photos, omitting mention of Swami Premananda's speech at Yoganandaji's memorial service, blacklisting members who raise questions and speak their minds, not keeping counseling information confidential, putting comment notes into members' files, opening the mail and listening in on phone conversations of monastics, instructing former monastics to stay away from the temples for years and keep silent about their monastic experiences, and keeping service opportunities away from those have made non-conservative lifestyle choices, which is indicative of a holier than thou attitude. As positive recommendations, I respectfully suggest more involvement of lay members in the management and decision making processes. This could include an advisory board made up of lay members who are attorneys, accountants, management consultants, psychologists, etc. Also needed are other forms of two way interaction between monastic and lay members. Discussions and workshops could be introduced where real dialoguing takes place at all levels within SRF. Given the deep entrenchment of rigidity within SRF, empathetic, non-violent communication practices would probably have to learned and applied throughout the organization. Once this is accomplished, SRF leadership could get together and take stock of the organization's mission, goals, and objectives. Desired changes should then become apparent by reevaluating all policies and procedures in that light. It has been suggested on this site a number of times that financial contributions to SRF be curtailed until such time as there is more financial accountability from SRF. I have proposed that those of us who still attend SRF services leave flowers in the offering baskets as devotional rather than monetary offerings until such time as we better know where the money is going through such things as annual financial statements. Of course, there is much more that could and should be said. I hope that Brother Vishwananda and/or others in management SRF will take the time to carefully look over the Walrus site. Some of the information may appear inflammatory, adversarial and overly negative to them, but that reflects the frustration of those who feel hurt, betrayed or rejected by an organization that they once trusted and to which they once gave so much of their time, resources and energies. If you keep an open mind, I think you will see that there is a consistency of viewpoint calling for more openness and greater fellowship within SRF. One need only read the East/West magazines of the 1930s to see and feel a great change of tone from the SRF that exists today. The fact that the Walrus site has had over 480,000 visits since it was established in August 2001, indicates that many people want greater communication from and about SRF. Many devoted persons have felt frustrated by the organization and are turning elsewhere for the information and fellowship that they still want and need. Edited by: Borg108 at: 2/23/03 12:31:45 pm
soulcircle Registered User (2/20/03 12:42 am) Reply	sheep-shearing / chubby checker and srf do the twist Guests and All, the tiger that thought it was a sheep, the story now has an srf twist.....but we get ahead of our story. While time and energy consuming discussions about reforms are being spent, may the following necessary step be taken as soon as possible: Nuns and monks who work with Vishwu will be less available for the numero uno priority of srf's in this century This priority is to sign up the millions worldwide who will want to follow blindly the closed cold [though dressed with bliss smiles] leadership of the religion of the dwapara age. Decade after decade this century, these teachings will sweep up young and old followers/sheep. As long as some of Vishwu, and his close advisors, find their hands full with reform minded devotees.... .....a committee to shear the sheep of the 21st century is of paramount and immediate importance to cover any time Vishwu loses working vast reforms at richmond the most dedicated senior devotees can probably shear sheep like there's no tomorrow, especially with your prayers other temples may want to have competitions with richmond to see how many lambs can be fleece d in any given year some sheep may get a little too empowered and need to be slaughtered..... ~~~~~ the twist srf added some tigers will realize they are not sheep....PY's story.....[a film exists on this story made by devotee Richard Cox, shown over the years to some monastics, to devotees at richmond, and possibly sunday schools more widely] srf has added the twist that these sheep who now know they are tigers are slaughtered ~~~~~ my hope is we letter writers/reformers, won't take too much of Vishwu's time, so that this slaughtering can continue unabated. circle Edited by: soulcircle at: 2/20/03 2:13:30 am
parabastha Registered User (2/20/03 5:14 am) Reply	Re: Letter to Bro Vishwananda - To restore to AY the parts that were deleted. - To restore the original photo of PY funeral with Premananda among Rajasi and Dr. Lewis. - To recognize Ananda members as disciples of PY (or at least do not deny Kriya initiation to them when requested) - To open SRF temples to Ananda, CSA, etc. ministers -- including Kriyananda and Roy E. Davis. And allow to SRF ministers to visit their communities. - To restore the original PY signature (the title ParamAhansa is ok, but his signature must be the original, without the inserted a). - To recognize and recommend to devotees Durga Ma' and Kamala's books. - To make available all PY videos and audio talks. - To produce for SRF students videos on the Energization Exercises, Hong-Sau and Om meditation techniques (as Ananda does). - To make available to Kriyabans PY's Kriya talk. - To give top priority to PY unpublished books: Second Coming of Christ, Revelation, Genesis and Yoga Sutras commentaries. What else?...
KS Registered User (2/20/03 7:52 am) Reply	Re: Letter to Bro Vishwananda I think these suggestions are pretty good: pub78.ezboard.com/fsrfwal...ID=9.topic We should probably stay away from mention of Ananda. That freaks out SRF and it will look like the suggestions are just from that group. At a minimum get a member on the board of directors and make it known that the presidency will be a 4 year term elected position. That takes the cult emphasis out of that office. That takes on the core of the cult problem and before we move away from that no progress is possible. All you might get is window dressing. Committee after committee and promises and spin. Edited by: KS at: 2/20/03 7:54:34 am
chela2020 Registered User (2/20/03 9:01 am) Reply	Re: Letter to Bro Vishwananda Everyone, I don't mind writing the letter, but I feel that there are much better letters writers on this board. Do any of you want to write the letter? I think whoever does, we can all help edit it.
Borg108 Registered User (2/20/03 9:21 am) Reply	Re: Letter to Bro Vishwananda chela2020, The information is getting rather overwhelming, especially with all the great stuff in the link provided by KS. One idea is that instead of including the kitchen sink in the letter to Bro Vishwananda, we could mention the strongest points that people on the board mention over and over again, then suggest that he spend a few days browsing the Walrus site and perhaps guiding him to specific areas. We should also let him know that Walrus is being read by a significant number of people (over 400,000 hits so far), is here to stay for the ages to come, and that SRF secrets of the past are no longer so secret anymore. This in itself could be a catalyst for change. Keep those cards and letters coming, folks.
chela2020 Registered User (2/20/03 10:00 am) Reply	Re: Letter to Bro Vishwananda Borg, You have such good ideas on what to say in the letter that I think that you should be the one to write the letter.
Borg108 Registered User (2/20/03 10:11 am) Reply	Re: Letter to Bro Vishwananda chela2020, Is Raja Beelum still around? Now THAT would be some letter! Otherwise, how about you and I (and anyone else who wants to join in) doing a first draft together? We could bounce it around by email, then post it for further comments and suggestions. If that sounds OK, then maybe you should start it since you've been posting here a long time and know better than me the most common concerns of the board members.
chela2020 Registered User (2/20/03 11:12 am) Reply	Re: Letter to Bro Vishwananda Borg: As far as the concerns of the board, I have forgot many of them, but when they are posted, I remember. What I like about the posts so far is that they are not attacking people in the organization. The main thing that I see is that we have to find out, like you said, what is most important, and I think the people on the board will be able to help us there. Do you have the direct quote from that magazine and which issue it was, the one where we can go to the church, temple, etc. of our choice? I read it too, but I don't have the magazine anymore, which actually was from www.yogananda-dif.org. or whatever site. Edited by: chela2020 at: 2/20/03 11:39:12 am
Borg108 Registered User (2/20/03 11:56 am) Reply	Re: Letter to Bro Vishwananda chela2020, Sorry, I meant Raja Belum, who posted some great things here in the past, including a brilliant analysis of the SRF organizational mindset in the thread above that KS mentioned. I'm afraid I don't know which issue the quote was in. I read it myself years a few years ago in one of the old magazines I came across. IMO, the contents and tone of the original writings and talks from around the 1930's were much more inspiring and humanistic than the heavily edited versions of early articles or talks, or the later writings. I don't recall anyone here mentioning the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali notes from the many lectures that Yoganandaji gave on them in the 1920s and 1930s. I have a copy I got from an insider. The talks must have been given informally before a small group. They hardly ever stay on topic, and are full of wonderful digressions, such as marital advice to Dr. Lewis in front of everyone and non-politically correct jokes making fun of the stinginess of Scottish people. They have a terrific feeling to them, as if Yogananda were right there with you as a real, loving friend, and not some sanitized and idealized perfect being. Getting back to the letter, I think all we can hope to accomplish with it is to plant some seeds for the future when the mental antiques running the show at SRF all pass on. There will be new antiques taking their places, since others with a more open mind usually leave the monastic order or sometimes even SRF, but a few more open ones may stay on. As for now, my experience has been that suggstions are not acted upon, and those making them are criticized for not accepting the divine will flowing through the theocracy that is SRF. Soulcircle's cynicism is probably justified. The main reason for bringing our thoughts and feelings to the attention of the organization and others is dharma - it is the right thing to do, regardless of the outcome. We can try to be examples of the openness and communication that we would like to see in SRF. It has to start somewhere. Edited by: Borg108 at: 2/20/03 1:20:30 pm
chela2020 Registered User (2/20/03 1:09 pm) Reply	Re: Letter to Bro Vishwananda Borg: You write and I agree: "The main reason for bringing our thoughts and feelings to the attention of the organization and others is dharma - it is the right thing to do, regardless of the outcome."
chuckle chela Registered User (2/20/03 1:39 pm) Reply	Re: Letter to Bro Vishwananda I would have thought that by now lots of people would have written letters to Vishwananda, but perhaps not. I was told by both a monastic and a friend who works at Mother Center that Vishwananda definitely wants to hear from people. The letter should be addressed to him at 3880 San Rafael Ave. Do not put "c/o Self-Realization Fellowship" because then the letter will be opened and possibly dealt with by someone other than Vishwananda. I'm a bit concerned about having a letter that is identified as having come from the Walrus. One senior, female renunciant told me, in so many words, that they have a very low opinion of the Walrus (understandable!). And I mean very low. Now that could be just one renunciant's opinion, but this particular monastic is senior enough to represent SRF policy. So I think any letter that is seen as being associated with the Walrus in any way will tend to get less attention and respect. While I think a group letter is fine, it will have be signed with real names and membership numbers. There is an argument that suggests that individual letters might have more impact (e.g., people felt strongly enough to write out a letter and send it in of their own initiative). I'm just throwing these ideas out into the mix. This is the list I came up with, and, like Borg and chela2020, I would suggest writing in a respectful manner. Some possible items to bring up (I invite comments, revision, whatever): FACT 1: SRF financial records are completely secret. The membership has no accounting of how their donations are handled, invested, and disbursed. OPINION 1: The membership has not only a right to know how the organization handles its finances, it also has an obligation of responsibility toward finances. Revealing financial statements would allow members more participation in this responsibility. Also, such disclosure would prevent the creation of rumors, half-truths, and innuendo regarding finances. RECOMMENDATION 1: Publish annual audited financial statements (balance sheet and income statement). Institute an AGM for those who are interested. FACT 2: Members know little or nothing about planning for major decisions, such as major capital expenditures. OPINION 2: It might be beneficial for everyone if more information was made available to the membership regarding significant, long-term planning and decision-making. Not only might the members be able to contribute, they would also feel a greater sense of "connectedness" with the organization and would have a better understanding of what SRF stands for, how it operates, and how it attempts to implement the Aims and Ideals. There would also be much less speculation and rumormongering among members. The lawsuit with Ananda is an example. The membership would have been better served if SRF had been forthcoming much earlier about its reasons for instigating the lawsuit.The same applies to all the disagreements between Ananda and SRF. While it is understandable that SRF didn't want members to focus on such matters to the detriment of their spiritual focus, the fact remains that a significant number of members either did focus (some obsessively) on these issues, or felt the stress of the lack of harmony between the two organizations and their respective members. The key principle is transparency. The organization might be better served with more transparency. RECOMMENDATION 2: Make more information available to members regarding planning and decision-making. It is interesting to note that the managing councils of meditation groups and centers must seek the approval of the entire membership of the group on expenditures over about $300. A similar principle might be wise for the entire organization. Similarly, those who serve on managing councils of groups and centers may only serve for up to three years consecutively, thereby ensuring a rotation of the responsibility. This also prevents abuses of power. A similar principle should apply to the SRF Board of Directors We might wish to have one or more lay members on the BOD. Regardless, one of the functions of the BOD would be to ensure that the membership was apprised of all major decisions. FACT 3: There seem to be few if any opportunities for feedback, grievance, and dialogue. OPINION 3: For employees and volunteers there need to be opportunities where they can file grievances for decisions made concerning their efforts (the same might be true for monastics, as well. Many monastic orders have a "chapter of faults," which provides an opportunity for monastics to give feedback to superiors without a fear of retribution). Feedback should always be honored and responded to. It might be beneficial to have opportunities for members and monastics to be able to talk about issues concerning them in environments that respect dialogue and understanding, that are safe, trusting, and supportive of all involved. RECOMMENDATION 3: Institute opportunities for feedback, both formal and informal. Ensure that responses are given, either in writing or verbally, to positive or negative feedback. Implement formal grievance procedures. If necessary, establish the position of an ombudsman or a committee charged with reviewing policies and complaints. Implement opportunities for dialogue among all members, using people (either monastics or lay members) trained in facilitating respectful dialogue; as far as I know, very few monastics have any formal training in these skills). FACT 4: There is no published code of ethics that is available for members, employees, or monastics. If there is such a code, it appears to be hidden from most of us. OPINION 4: We all need to see that there are moral standards to which the organization adheres. While such standards may be implicit in the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda, they still need to be clearly and concisely spelled out in a formal code of ethics. This is almost routine practice for most business, service, and non-profit organizations. The code needs to contain provisions regarding actions one can take if it is felt that the code has been breached (see the above recommendation). RECOMMENDATION 4: Take whatever actions are necessary to implement such a code. Hire professional ethicists, if necessary. The ethics code should cover principles found in Yogananda's teachings, in the precepts of yama/niyama, in the teachings of Sanatan Dharma, and in the moral and legal codes common to our society. FACT 5: A number of employees and renunciants at MC and some of the other ashrams have had serious difficulties with supervisors and superiors. While some sorts of difficulties are to be expected and would be addressed, many of these serious problems were not even recognized, let alone addressed adequately. There have been, for example, significant problems with psychodynamics such as tranference and projection. OPINION: 5 These problems have led to detrimental conditions, not to mention to the exodus of both renunciants and lay members. The problems have probably not be adequately addressed yet but need to be. SRF plays a dual role for those at work in the ashram environments: both as "family" and as employer. This can be very confusing for both renunciants and member-employees; the result is serious problems with projection and transference. There may also be situations where spiritual "training" and discipline is confused with what might actually be abuse or inappropriate managerial behavior. There has to be a recognition of the psychological forces that exist, even among "spiritual" people. The unconscious mind does exist and it does have a significant impact on our behavior. Meditation alone is not a sufficient means of ensuring psychological health. RECOMMENDATION 5: Using the help of trained psychotherapists in the ashram was a good step. Their assistance should once again be sought, and their recommendations should be seriously considered. Such explorations amount to efforts to promote and maintain a healthy psychological climate in the organization and culture. FACT 6: There are some less than optimal dynamics between members and some monastics, particularly ministers and SRF leaders. The latter are unduly "worshipped" and idolized by members. At the same time, a significant number of members report feelings of inadequacy, of unworthiness, doubts, and fears. There are also signs of more less-than-ideal (to put a positive spin on it) communications between members than is healthy or warranted in an organization devoted to harmony. OPINION 6: The dynamics in the relationships between the monastics and the members may inadvertently be contributing to these negative feelings which are expressed by members. The entire culture may have some dysfunctional elements which should be explored. Such explorations amount to efforts to promote and maintain a healthy psychological climate in the culture. People in SRF may need to learn how to communicate clearly and effectively with each other. RECOMMENDATION 6: Using the help of trained professionals, instigate efforts to explore and come to terms with some of these dynamics. Members and monastics alike may need opportunities to think and talk about the dynamics existing in the culture. This would need to be done in evironments that are safe, supportive, and respectful. These opportunities could provide members with a chance to practice communication skills. FACT 7: SRF's corporate and organizational model appears dated in some respects. OPINION 7: The corporate/organizational model used by SRF's leaders doesn't appear to have changed significantly for many years. Since that time, many institutions--business, social services, government, education, to name a few--have gone through at least one and in most cases several major restructurings, in some cases, revolutions. (Imagine, for example, having an organization that took so long to accept the use of such basic tools as fax machines). Using the model espoused by "The Holy Science," we could say that SRF's model is stuck in Kali yuga, while most other institutions have evolved well into Dwapara Yuga. SRF's managers and leaders appear to be unaware or not interested in implementing such concepts as systems thinking, the organization as a learning institute, infometrics, research on and analysis of programs and their effectiveness, using your clients (the members) to help design the organization and the service it provides, and so on. It is extremely likely, nay, almost certain that SRF would be much better able to achieve its goals if its organizational structure was thoroughly examined and overhauled. One can conclude by saying that there needs to be much greater trust manifesting in the organization: trust of the monastics, the employees, and the members. If you don't trust them, how do expect them to behave? RECOMMENDATION 7: The entire corporate model needs to be dispassionately examined and revised where necessary. Professional help will certainly be required. Indeed, it may well be that a business school would be interested in using SRF as a model for analysis: analyzing it as it currently is, organizing and implementing a corporate overhaul, and then analyzing how the change improved matters. These opinions and recommendations are offered with respect, with a spirit of assistence, and with the hope of fostering discussion. Unless Vishwananda is flooded with letters, I think there's very little chance anything will change. Still, though, I think one should write. I felt the better for having written my letter to him several months ago for three reasons. It was a positive thing to do, I put my point of view on the table, expressing my heartfelt opinions about what I thought would make SRF a better organization, and I can say that I did more than just btch and moan. On the positive side, I'm certainly noticing more photos of Yogananda wearing a cross these days. I wonder whether a lot of people complained about the airbrushing out of the crosses. If so, it's a sign that change might be possible. Edited by: chuckle chela at: 2/21/03 2:35:32 pm*
soulcircle Registered User (2/20/03 1:55 pm) Reply	administration Suggestion More than half the board of directors always be householders
chela2020 Registered User (2/20/03 2:02 pm) Reply	Re: Letter to Bro Vishwananda chuckle chela, I really liked your idea of each of us sending letters to Swami Vishwananda. It would take away the need for us to all sign the letter, unless we said it was from the Walrus board, and I agree that they don't think much of the Walrus. All of these statements in this thread are great, and it would be nice if each person wrote a letter including their comments in them, but for those who don't wish to do so because it would mean identifying themselves, we could do it for them. But then maybe a letter from us as members of Walrus would help open up communications, after all, they would like to see this board gone, but maybe not bad enough to make changes. Also, I don't feel that SRF desires to continue to lose monastics and other members, and my hope is that they would desire to want to understand what it is that we are feeling, and why we have left or think of leaving. Maybe I am wrong.
soulcircle Registered User (2/20/03 2:03 pm) Reply	self-realization suggestion With humility,devotion and attitude it works like mathematics a spiritual suggestion forget numbers and sweeping the world and focus on quality if there are self realized members.... if there are.... when and if large numbers want this consciousness they will come without individuals with a lot of cool attitude and samdhi the whole fellowship is an empty shell around Kamala there were at least five people who where physically with her [one living individual, ANY NUMBER of times] ...who were with her when she was obviously breathless ~~~~ i have heard second hand ABOUT NO OTHER INDIVIDUAL gaining the full benefit of kriya and devotion [humility, devotion and attitude] let's focus less on numbers/growth and more on the direct oneness with divine mother as Kamala exemplifies, ok?
soulcircle Registered User (2/20/03 2:07 pm) Reply	what else parabastha your list is GREAT at this time I can only add, have the video Paramhansa Yogananda, Glimpses of a Life Divine available to all, for purchase from website, bookstores, at centers and convocation
soulcircle Registered User (2/20/03 2:15 pm) Reply	Chuckle Chela, Well...........?????????????????? Did this man who you wrote to several months back, respond?????????????????? Edited by: soulcircle at: 2/20/03 2:16:27 pm
soulcircle Registered User (2/20/03 2:18 pm) Reply	chela2020 the self-realization [non] fellowship doesn't care [except for occassional lip service] that they lose householders and monastics, there are millions more coming Edited by: soulcircle at: 2/20/03 2:19:54 pm