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SRF Walrus > Non-SRF Teachings and Ideals > Hariharananda and the Puri Ashram
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srflongago Registered User (12/15/02 8:58 am) Reply	Hariharananda and the Puri Ashram Swami Satyananda, boyhood friend and fellow disciple with Yogananda at the Puri Ashram in 1917, became president of Puri. The presidency for Puri went to Hariharananda when Saryananda passed. Does anyone who has visited India know the details of the litigation that SRF undertook in India to gain control over that Ashram? Does anyone know the details of current ownership and governance? Edited by: srflongago at: 12/15/02 9:11:17 am
History Buff 2002 Registered User (12/15/02 1:38 pm) Reply	Re: Hariharananda and the Puri Ashram All I know is the standard response from SRF. They imply that the ashram was bequeathed to Yogananda by his guru and say that they are trying to "resolve the matter." This would imply that any lawsuit is ongoing. There are former monastics (who have left in the last year or two) who would know what is going on. I do not know, however, if these people are as yet ready to talk about it. It seems it takes some time to recover from being afraid of the SRF board and lawyers, especially for those who spent most of their adult lives in the ashram. They are no doubt additionally afraid that SRF could collect on any settlement money they received should they decide to talk about their experiences. As you may be aware, most were required to sign a "confidentiality clause" before they received any assistance from SRF. I do believe that in time these persons will realize there is much to gain by rejoining the free world and speaking up. And there is little likelihood SRF would sue them for any funds, as this would be very bad for their public image.
Ringbearer7 Registered User (12/15/02 2:58 pm) Reply	Re: Hariharananda and the Puri Ashram Yoganandaji was made President of Sadhu Sabdha (Sri Yukteswarji's organization) after Sri Yukteswar's passing. After Yogananda's passing Satyanandaji became president. I am not aware that Hariharananda was made president of the organization after Satyananda's passing or that the organization still existed at that point. Hariharanda was made administrator of the Puri ashram, which is quite different from being made President of Sadhu Sabdha, by Satyananda while he was still alive because the previous ashram administrator was not well suited to that sort of work and Satyananda was busy with the Sevayatan work.
srflongago Registered User (12/15/02 3:24 pm) Reply	Re: Hariharananda and the Puri Ashram Ringbearer: Thanks. One of the Hariharananda sites said he was made president. Those sites are not a good source of information, they disagree with each other. I assume the argument is over ownership of real estate?
Lobo Registered User (12/15/02 7:25 pm) Reply	Re: Hariharananda and the Puri Ashram From the 1st edition of the Autobiography of a Yogi, page 90 is the following regarding Swami Sri Yukteswarji's ashrams. "As we made our way to the stone balcony of a house overlooking the Ganges, he (Sri Y) said affectionately: "I will give you my hermitages and all I possess." "Sir, I come for wisdom and God-contact. Those are the treasure-troves I am after." So it appears from this account that S.Y. gave all of his earthly abodes and possessions to his chief disciple, PY. Yoganandaji's reply, however, seems to indicate a distinct lack on interest in acquiring those outer possessions.
Ringbearer7 Registered User (12/15/02 8:13 pm) Reply	Re: Hariharananda and the Puri Ashram Actually, I do not know for certain. I assume that the litigation was concerning the rights to the Puri ashram property. Apparently SRF considered Hariharananda to be a YSS teacher until his breaking with SRF in 1973. Here is a snippet from a letter from SRF to a member that I found on the net regarding Hariharananda: "Regarding the swami you inquired about, we should explain that he was at one time a teacher of Yogoda Satsanga Society, but his connection with our society was severed in 1973. We should perhaps also mention that our records are not in agreement with some of those statements made on behalf of this swami. Our files indicate, for example, that he received Kriya initiation, not from Swami Sri Yukteswar or Paramahansa Yogananda, but from Swami Satyananda, who then served as teacher of Yogoda Satsanga Society..." Of course, SRF is was/is probably somewhat overbearing in trying to position itself as top dog in the Kriya world so the above should be taken with a grain of salt. But I do recall reading that Hariharananda had published a book which included a copy of a letter from Yoganandaji giving him permission to teach and requiring him to teach the Yogoda exercises - which apparently he did not, at least not in recent times. Has anyone else seen this letter from Yogananda to Hariharnanda? I think the SRF spokesperson recently made mention of it also in regards to Hariharananda's passing. Anyways, before Satyananda put Hariharananda in charge of the Puri ashram the administrator was Swami Ushananda. You can find a picture of Ushananda in one of Satyeswarananda's books. In his books Satyeswarananda refers to Swami Ushananda as Swami Ushananda/Hariharananda - I'm not sure why but I think this is either the result or the cause (or both) of some of the confusion between Swami Ushananda and Hariharananda - who apparently are two different people. Anyways, Satyananda put Hariharananda in charge of Puri after Swami Ushananda gave up his position there but I have never heard of Hariharnanda being made president of Sadhu Sabdha.
parabastha Registered User (12/16/02 4:09 am) Reply	Re: Hariharananda and the Puri Ashram The letter is reproducted in Hariharananda's book "Kriya Yoga" (page x) Fifth Revised and Enlarged Edition, 1998 October 6, 1951 Brahmachari Robynarayan Yogoda Ashram Puri, India Dear Robynarayan: [something hand-writen at the margin, something like: "Sevananda will soon finish the .... at Puri."] I have received your many letters and am sorry I have ben unable to answer them sooner. My life is one whirl-wind of activity and struggle for the work. One thing I must ask of you all is that you please do not write letters to me in Bengali because none of my secretaries can read -- I read them carefully when they come, but have not the time to re-read again when dictating. I am at this moment dictating the following to you at 1 a.m. I love to read the letters written in Bengali, but for the above-stated reason, I ask that you tell all writing to me to write in English. I received a letter from a man who has gone to the Ashram at Puri to stay, leaving his family. If his whole soul is tied to the work and he will follow it 100%, then it is alright for him to remain. I am glad he has come but he must follow all the rules of Brahmacharya. I am very pleased with the work you are doing at Puri. Keep on with it with great diligence and at the same time remain faithful to your meditation. Every minute of your existence hold to the tought of Divine Mother -- no matter what work you are performing. What is the name of the student initiated by me here -- you wrote that he stopped there with his family and you discussed Kriya Yoga. Give his address too. Partly due to your recommendation I have already sanctioned the buying of the Bhuboneswar property and sometime I will make a small ashram. I give you permission to give the Kriya Yoga to those who are truly in earnest -- but only after they have received all the other preliminary techniques -- the tension exercises, concentration exercise (Hang-Sau) and meditation (listening to Om sound. Contact Prokas about the technique -- I will instruct office to also send you the form to follow. Let me hear from you further. Why don't you train some workers who can carry on the work there? It requires two years of trainig to bring anyone here and then on my recommendation. I have writen to Sananda to begin work in Puri and he will do so. One thing I must ask of each of you and that is that you all work harmoniously together for the common cause. Do not seek to find faults in others for then your whole lives become tied to negativeness. Every person has some faults and needs love and understanding. Be humble and loving towards others. Keep your minds engrossed with the Divine and you won't have time to think of these lesser things. My love and blessings are with you always. [something hand-writen, I could not read it] Very sincerely yours, [signed] P. Yogananda
srflongago Registered User (12/16/02 8:43 am) Reply	Re: Hariharananda and the Puri Ashram Another query: I have heard that, like Jotin (Premananda) in Washington for that Center, Hariharanada was the major figure in getting funds etc to rebuild the Puri Ashram. Can anyone verify this? I am really trying to assess his life and works for my own edification.
Ringbearer7 Registered User (12/16/02 10:06 am) Reply	Re: Hariharananda and the Puri Ashram Thank you Parabastha, I had never seen this before. Very interesting...

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