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KS
Registered User
(2/16/03 3:22 pm)
Reply 		The Welfare State at Mother Center
It has occurred to me that Mother Center has become nothing more than a welfare state for damaged people. Those monastics who have survived the purges of the 90’s up to now, as well as the employees, are basically hiding from real responsibility. They hope they can hide inside the walls and not need to take responsibility for their own lives. For this they give up their freedom, self respect, and most remarkably their spiritual lives.

Employees used to talk about getting their resumes together and finding a real place to live and work so they can get back on track. The rumors of layoffs broke well over a year ago and the weaklings still inside the gates have just ignored the signs and continued to hope that their pact with the devil will hold. That pact is that mother center will provide lifelong love and financial support if they stay and serve Master. The employees and monastics still holding onto this farcical illusion are just acting out of cowardice. A fear of the outside. A fear of dealing with life as it really is. A fear of not belonging. A fear of having failed and/or a fear of having been wrong all these years.

A life of fear. What a choice.

Of course most have no real self-respect left so we have to admit that deciding to leave the prison is a difficult choice. However, if they wish their spiritual lives to amount to anything the first step is courage and honesty with yourself.

It is time to get started folks. The Welfare State that is mother center is crumbling.

X Insider
Registered User
(2/17/03 1:18 am)
Reply 		Re: The Welfare State at Mother Center
KS,

I feel I must add a few words.

Yes, some of the monastics are "damaged." But being damaged is true for much of the population at large. Some monastics are actually suited for the life; maybe not many, but in my opinion, a few are actually suited. And others have manged to adapt, albeit in ways that may break our hearts.

For those who are not temperamentally suited and remain out of fear, it is understandable that they do so. As I have said in more than one post, some have been there all their adult lives. Readjusting to life outside could be very, very difficult, unless they had an independent income or strong and committed family support.

So let's not hope that these folks leave the ashram unless they are well motivated to do so. If they chose to stay, let's not be too quick to judge them, but rather send our love.

KS
Registered User
(2/17/03 7:06 am)
Reply 		Re: The Welfare State at Mother Center
I don't blame them for their own condition in some ways. I only comment on what years of living in that environment does to their will power, self esteem, and ability to work and live around real people. I do consider them damaged just like children coming out of abusive broken families. It is their fault only in the sense that they could have made other life choices.

If you are suggesting that we not consider them damaged to the extent that we do try to help them when they finally escape, I agree.

I disagree that some are suited to that place. If you mean by suited that they can find a corner and live fairly comfortable lives then OK. But so what? If you mean they can find a place to learn and grow as a person and progress on the spiritual path then I disagree. No one there has found that. The spiritual test there is one of learning what is real and what is not, learning what is true loyalty, and learning courage.

member108
Registered User
(2/18/03 7:06 am)
Reply 		Re: The Welfare State at Mother Center
Some of these employees feel they are the chosen few. That does not sound like they are afraid to leave. It sounds like they are staying to keep their prestige and esteemed positions. There are probably some of both. I heard of a meeting at Hollywood where a group of members were brought together to talk about why others left SRF. Their opinion was that these other people were not mature devotees. Their delusion and sense of self importance is very strong.

Why they didn't talk to the people who left about why they left is kind of funny but typical of a cult environment. Outside opinions are dangerous. Someone might see the dead elephant on the table.

Rosemarie7
Registered User
(2/28/03 7:02 pm)
Reply 		Re: The Welfare State at Mother Center
If they think they are one of the chosen few it stems from an sense of inferiority. This is reinforced by the whole hierarchy system that feeds on the idea that some people are more important than others. The system leaves you with people more important than you over your head and people less important below you. Always putting you in a situation of judging the worth of the person you're dealing with. What ever happened to all are equal in the eye of God?

The dead elephant has been on that table for a long time and is stinking up the room, but I think they've become use to it and are enjoying the smell.

Did anybody ever notice the monks rarely pranam (spelling) you back? They think they are due the respect, but we are not.

thatpilgrim
Registered User
(3/3/03 9:18 am)
Reply 		Re: The Welfare State at Mother Center
Quote: Did anybody ever notice the monks rarely pranam (spelling) you back? They think they are due the respect, but we are not.

One of the more telling revisions in the Autobiography of a Yogi addresses this issue. Below you'll see the original 1946 edition compared to the 1981 edition that was changed by SRF. These quotes are from a footnote to the word 'pronam'. The bold, for emphasis, is mine.

From 1946 1st edition Autobiography of a Yogi:
Pronam*
*"Literally, 'holy name,' a word of greeting among Hindus, accompanied by palm-folded hands lifted from the heart to the forehead in salutation. A pronam in India takes the place of the Western greeting by handshaking." (Original, p. 379; Reprint,p. 363)

From the 1981 edition published by SRF:
Pronam*
*"Lit., 'complete salutation,' from Sanskrit root nam, to salute or bow down; and the prefix pro, completely. A pranam salutation is made chiefly before monks and other respected persons." (p. 367)

Edited by: thatpilgrim at: 3/3/03 9:19:23 am
crogman1
Registered User
(3/3/03 7:44 pm)
Reply 		Re: The Welfare State at Mother Center
The Pronam debate is a little off the subject of the Welfare state but OK. Both are interesting!

I don't agree it is a Welfare state. For most of the monks it is more like a deranged summer camp. For the nuns like a boarding school used instead of prison time. The employees are mostly burn out cases hiding from the world. They have little self esteem and confidence. Most have been demoralized to the extent that they could probably not hold down a good job anymore. In a sense it is sort of a Welfare State!

There is another set of employees, mostly the women, who feel they are loyal subjects of the crown. For what ever reason they are motivated by belonging to something and feeling special. These poor ladies suffer every day.

Edited by: crogman1 at: 3/3/03 7:46:32 pm
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