The many failings of Tom Black - www.ezboard.com

>

SRF Walrus

Mt. Washington, Ca

Open discussions about SRF

SRF Walrus > History of SRF > The many failings of Tom Black
	<< Prev Topic \| Next Topic >>

Author	Comment
Paramadas Registered User (1/26/04 5:34 pm) Reply	The many failings of Tom Black The purpose of this post is to question two of SRF’s practices with which I disagree. First, I believe it shows poor judgment on the part of SRF to allow wealthy financial donors, such as Tom Black, to dictate policy for SRF. If such people want to donate large sums of money, that is fine, but they should not be allowed to influence SRF’s decision-making as a result of their donations. Instead, it would show far greater wisdom to gratefully accept the money but make it clear that the money will be used for projects which SRF’s directors feel is most appropriate, not necessarily following the suggestions of the donor. Second, I disagree with the practice of providing private retreats for the monks and nuns which are unavailable to the public, especially when those retreats cost so damn much money, such as the “Giri” monk’s retreat in Julian which burned down in the recent forest fires. In my opinion, the money for that retreat, the “crown jewel” of SRF’s retreats, should have been used for more prosaic purposes, such as eliminating the 40% staff cutbacks that we have experienced in some departments recently. Back around 1980, Tom Black was involved in the purchase of the Hidden Valley property, and was responsible for the construction of the huge greenhouse, and initiated the herb business which SRF carried on for a decade or so. At the time, I had warned SRF that this was an ill-conceived idea, and that other farming ventures were more likely to be successful, but my entreaties were dismissed. In retrospect, SRF would have been far wiser to accept my alternative proposal. Even when the basil operation was fully operational and making money, it was still a hateful place to work, loathed by the residents who worked in that sweltering greenhouse day after day. The workers had to wear tall rubber boots because the ground was a disgusting muddy mess, and smelled really bad too. It was not a place that you proudly displayed to visitors. The heat, especially in summer, was hideous, and the combination of the ferocious heat and the terrible smell made it a hellish place to work on a daily basis. On top of all that, the economics of running a massive greenhouse is dicey at best. As I pointed out then, and have pointed out repeatedly since then, California has a wonderful climate for growing a multitude of crops which do not require an expensive greenhouse to grow successfully. By choosing only those crops (basil, and later hibiscus) which can only be grown in a greenhouse, you are immediately cutting into your profit margin because the greenhouse is expensive to maintain, especially when that humongous structure has to be heated in winter. Instead, why not choose a crop that grows perfectly well without the added expense of a greenhouse? Needless to say, my ideas were overlooked because Mr. Moneybags, Tom Black, wanted to do it his way, however impractical his ideas were. I suggest that, in future, SRF resist the temptation to allow large donors to influence SRF policy. Had SRF had the foresight to follow my suggestions back in 1980, the Hidden Valley farm would now be a self-sufficient and highly productive farm, generating cash not only for its own use but for SRF’s larger mission as well. Second topic: why do the monks need a retreat to get away from us? What are we, chopped liver? The “Giri” retreat was a beautiful three story building with many acres of land surrounding it. Tom Black reportedly planted hundreds of trees around the property to beautify it. I don’t know how many of you have planted a hundred trees, but it’s a fair amount of work. He put his heart and soul into the place, all for naught when the forest fire utterly destroyed the building and every last one of his precious trees. Apparently, the monks absolutely loved the Giri retreat. Why, I must ask, are our donations going towards these private retreats for the monks and nuns (there are several such retreats in different locations)? Any of you who have been to the Mother Center, or Lake Shrine, or Encinitas ashrams, have no doubt felt the wonderful vibrations of Master. These are not hateful places from which the monks should feel some desperate need to escape to the mountains of Julian, or Borrego Springs, or wherever their other secret retreats are located. Personally, I find it offensive that our money is going for the upkeep of these hideaways, and apparently, the Guru feels the same way, because He allowed the monk’s favorite retreat to burn to the ground. Recall, please, that Master said that Divine Mother allowed his favorite temple, the Golden Lotus temple in Encinitas, to slip into the ocean because Master was expending too much effort on it, and She wanted Master to expand his work. Likewise, I think that the loss of this “Giri” retreat, is a silent message to the leadership of SRF to spend less time and money maintaining these private retreats, and more effort expanding Master’s work to the millions of lay members who desperately need to hear Master’s healing message. In conclusion, I have the deepest sympathy for Tom Black, whose hard work for SRF, all of it well-meaning, has resulted in disaster after disaster. The Hidden Valley farm has still not recovered from the financial debacle of the greenhouse business, and the “Giri” retreat has been completely annihilated by fire. But the old saying applies here, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Mr. Black meant well, of that I have no doubt, but good intentions are no substitute for good judgment.
Punk Yogi Registered User (1/27/04 11:49 am) Reply	The Serfs who Serve the Gluttons in the SRF Mansion A nagging voice in my head prompts me to ask: Could the SRF/Black strategy have been to run the greenhouse at a loss for tax purposes? Well, whatever the motive, it's crystal clear that SRF has always been an organization fanatically of, by, and for the monastics. Lay disciples are an afterthought, an ornament to the monastics' rather comfortable world. The materialism in SRF is stunning. Whenever I reflect on the sweeping panorama of my life with SRF, whenever I drink in memories of the farm and the Mt. Washington mansion, I always get an affiliated image of a plantation or some feudal institution with its multitude of serfs gardening and picking weeds for the benefit of the privileged masters within. Raja Begum said it early on in his 11/04/01 entry: *Quote:* 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? Edited by: Punk Yogi at: 1/28/04 6:48 am
soulcircle Registered User (1/27/04 1:13 pm) Reply	SRF WALRUS Post PY in Links to Really Good Threads SRF Walrus, In some ways Punk Yogi has said it all in his post today (above) History of SRF The Many Failings of Tom Black you think? soulcircle
premdas Registered User (1/29/04 10:17 am) Reply	Some foundational history & lessons.... Those of you who are still drawn to Yogananda's work and want to understand organizationally and spiritually why there have been so many issues relating to lay members (non-monastics) and spreading the guru's kriya & teachings, may want to read the subject header "Yogananda's Predictions for the SRF Presidency" in this "History of SRF" section. Premdas Edited by: premdas at: 1/29/04 3:01 pm

<< Prev Topic | Next Topic >>

Add Reply

Email This To a Friend

Email This To a Friend
Topic Control Image

Topic Control Image

Click to receive email notification of replies

Click to stop receiving email notification of replies

jump to:

- SRF Walrus - History of SRF -

Powered By ezboard® Ver. 7.32
Copyright ©1999-2005 ezboard, Inc.