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SRF Walrus

Mt. Washington, Ca

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SRF Walrus > Life on the Inside > Rock Stars
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KS Unregistered User (11/4/01 5:55 am) Reply	Rock Stars When the monastics go on tours, show up at Convocation, or are just seen outside the ashram they are treated like rock stars. Raja Begum mentioned this in a post I just read and I thought it might be worth a discussion thread. How much of that ego flattering attention do you all think contributes to people wanting to stay in the ashram (or join it). They are beaten up again and again but stay! Some really want to serve and many are hiding out from the “real world”, but how many are just in it for the rock star effect? They get money and gifts, and are swooned over. They even get a lot of attention from the opposite sex. This must be flattering. On the other hand most of them don’t get out all that often. The nuns rarely get out at all. That would be small compensation for what they have to live with day after day after day.
Raja Begum Unregistered User (11/4/01 6:40 am) Reply	Elite Brigade One senses that they are groomed to believe they are God's elite. Read the pamphlet entitled "Give Me Thy Heart"..... "At the heart of Self-Realization Fellowship is a dedicated monastic order." If monastics are "at the heart" of SRF, where do the lay members reside? In the sphincter?
Rosemarie7 Registered User (11/13/02 7:37 pm) Reply	Re: Rock Stars So few end up "Rock Stars"... I wonder too, why anybody would choose such a life. If they were all starry eyed when they went in it wouldn't take long to see the black sky, so why do they stay? I hate to judge something I don't understand, but I can only guess they are afraid of the world. I was afraid. Maybe it's like a baby bird afraid to leave the nest so they go find another mama bird to take care of them for the rest of their lives...? Maybe their childhood was abusive so the SRF abuse seemed normal, familiar (coming from the word family) I don't know isn't there an X-monk who will tell us why he chose that life, why he stayed? I know an X-Catholic missionary who wanted to save the souls of heathens: instead they saved his soul, but SRF doesn't have missionaries... Edited by: Rosemarie7 at: 11/13/02 7:59:56 pm
KS Registered User (11/13/02 9:06 pm) Reply	Re: Rock Stars Remember that they only take people when they are young, or usually so. This is just like the Army. They are easier to manipulate! They get sincere souls, people really wanting to find God. Then they make them pledge loyalty, train them not to question, make sure they understand the SRF concept of karma (you get what you deserve) and make sure they realize that the leadership and God are one and the same. It takes them years of suffering to break out of it. Good people are reduced to ashes. Time spent as a rock star is very little. Some live for it.
Rosemarie7 Registered User (11/13/02 9:37 pm) Reply	Re: Rock Stars KS Under those conditions wouldn't you expect severe depression and suicides?
soulcircle Registered User (11/13/02 11:19 pm) Reply	sadly there is the severe depression hasn't (sob) there been at least one suicide
username Registered User (11/14/02 7:32 am) Reply	Re: sadly Is mental illness rates among SRF lay members higher than regular folks?
soulcircle Registered User (11/14/02 12:54 pm) Reply	what i saw in '94 All, the sweetest most untroubled soul, serving and expressing a keen edge to life around them, went quickly into the ashram from the chapel at richmond 12 months later came out, burdened with darkness and in pain yet to be shaken in '02 srf walrus, you are welcome to add this to specific experiences, to go into any more detail i would be oversteppin as this person has a name, a life, and a diagnosis that is their personal business circle
soulcircle Registered User (11/14/02 12:57 pm) Reply	i am serious this person i mention above, off 2,000 or more people coming through the richmond chapel (who m I was aware of), in these 22 years i have been here.... ..was one, of two people, who were unspeakably cool and calming and inspiring to me
Rosemarie7 Registered User (11/14/02 1:23 pm) Reply	Re: Rock Stars KS I got stuck on your words "SEEKING GOD" These words have no meaning to me. If God is everywhere and created everything why would we need to go looking for him? Isn't that like being a fish in the water saying, Oh water, water I beseech you, please, oh please, will you come to me? This morning I woke with it still on my mind. I asked my husband if he had ever sought God, He said, "No, if God wants me, I figure he know where to find me." Reality check! Am I being obtuse? What? Edited by: Rosemarie7 at: 11/14/02 6:38:47 pm
Ringbearer7 Registered User (11/14/02 4:07 pm) Reply	Re: Rock Stars >This morning I woke with it still on my mind. I asked my >husband if he had ever sought God, He said, "No, if God >wants me, I figure he know where to find me." Heh! Your husband sounds very cool!
Rosemarie7 Registered User (11/14/02 6:34 pm) Reply	Re: Rock Stars Thank You, I like him too, most of the time...
X Insider Registered User (11/16/02 3:51 pm) Reply	Re: Rock Stars I also like your husband's comment alot. I am so happy now that my mind and heart have come back to this. About why monastics stay... There's lots about this on the board in various places. As someone just said, abuse of various kinds does set you up for it, then the brainwashing (a very real phenomenon, as I finally came to understand) sets in, so it takes awhile and much courage to make an exit. Practical considerations, how to live and make money are a very real concern for exiting monastics, particularly older ones. A lucky few have carved out a fairly independent life style. But I don't think it is possible to really realize your own potential for happiness as long as you are in any contact with the cult thinking. This includes SRF meditation groups, near and far.
Rosemarie7 Registered User (11/17/02 12:01 am) Reply	Re: Rock Stars Thank you again.

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