Daya Mata's elected president

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srfwalrus ezOP (11/9/02 6:26 am)	Daya Mata's elected president How did this come about? I have seen various references to this event but the Walrusites might like the inside story with a healthy debate.
crogman1 Registered User (11/11/02 5:13 am)	Re: Daya Mata's elected president The DIF website has some information about how all this got came about. yogananda-dif.org/DDFalseD.htm In addition, I understand that Dr. Lewis who was the Vice President at the time was kept out of the decision making process and was not even told that meetings were being held! I was not there of course but it seems like the style of the bad ladies. How can anything good result from a start like that?
wholetruth Registered User (11/11/02 9:04 am)	Re: Daya Mata's elected president According to Durga Ma in her book, A PARAMHANSA TRILOGY OF DIVINE LOVE, after Rajasi passed away, she was at first offered the position of president out of respect for the fact she was the senior monastic at the time and a member of the original SRF Board of Directors. She was on very good terms with Faye, Laurie and the others at that time. She declined because of her precarious health, feeling she probably wouldn't be on earth much longer, and the other ladies chose Sister Daya to be president. Edited by: wholetruth at: 11/11/02 9:05:39 am
srflongago Registered User (11/11/02 10:28 am)	Re: Daya Mata's elected president SRF has been notably quiet about this issue for 50 years. Here is what I heard, as one outside SRF, in the years 1955-1960, from a long term devotee living at Mt. Washington. This person was not on the Board. Others of you may add (and subtract) from my hearsay account, based on your knowledge. But someone has to start somewhere, and we can later try to reconcile different accounts. There are those in their seventies and eighties who are still alive and who were there at the time who could speak up before they pass and the knowledge is lost forever. I hope the tone of this thread will be constructive rather than defensive or judgemental. We should seek the simple truth. Yogananda always said that SRF was formed to bring his ideas to the West and that no one could take his place. I can vouch for that from hearing him say it repeatedly in the early days. He therefore made no provision for a successor, as far as we know did not leave a will or testament either. As financial angel to SRF and its official Saint, Lynn was the only suitable choice in 1952. When Lynn died in 1955, he too had made no provision for a successor. At his death Florina Darling (Ma Durga) gave Kriya initiations to the other women, since they had not had them, though they had been listed as SRF ministers since 1937. The Board asked her to take over the Presidency, but she did not wish to be a President, she preferred being a Teacher. This is a little different reason than that given in Ma Durga's book. But they may both have been stated reasons at the time. Do remember how many years she lived, good health or bad, after that!. She eeked out a slender living giving private lessons in person and by phone. It is said that she did not feel welcome at SRF in later years. The Board, with several Wrights on it, then selected Faye Wright (Daya Mata) as president. The source also said that Faye searched for an authentic Indian Kriya master to run Mt Washington on her visit to India. But those approached were not interested in the US organization. So Faye remained as leader. For those who don't know, Faye Wright was Yogananda's long term secretary, Virginia Wright was a secretary too, Richard Wright was first general manager of the Mt Washington facility, then general factotum. They were administrators rather than teachers, even if listed as ministers in the roster Yogananda put out every year. All three were brought to Mt Washington as teenagers by their mother Rachel (correction) in about 1930, who was escaping from an unhappy Mormon marriage in Salt Lake City, and who was entranced by Yogananda. I cannot remember whether Rachel (correction) was a second, third, or fourth wife in that marriage. I made a small attempt to find her on the Mormon geneology site, but failed. Someone else may be able to locate the geneology. Rachel (correction) had a dominating, personality and had a very powerful influence on her children's lives. Edited by: srflongago at: 11/13/02 6:38:54 pm
mangomoy Registered User (11/11/02 6:00 pm)	Re: Ma Durga declining to be SRF president Wholetruth: Adding to your above posting, there's also another sightly different, important reason why Ma Durga declined the SRF presidency. In addition to her precarious health, she ALSO believed Master had hinted in January 1952 that she might not live much longer (although she lived another 41 years). a) In A PARAMHANSA TRILOGY OF DIVINE LOVE, see page 51, subsection titled "Master Tells Me of His Worries, " Master's remark that "...all three of our lives; his, yours and mine are equally in the same danger." b) Also see page 64, subsection titled "I Was Asked To Be President," her remark that "...Master had told me my life too is in danger as much as his and Rajasi's were, ..." Ma Durga (whose name was bestowed upon her by Master personally, then altered [corrupted] by Faye Wright's imperial fiat into 'Durga Mata' ) thought she might die soon, so she declined the presidency for the good of SRF- i.e., as an act of loyalty to her beloved Master. Edited by: mangomoy at: 11/11/02 11:08:47 pm
Lobo Registered User (11/11/02 7:58 pm)	Re: Daya Mata's elected president Ma Durga, what year did she move to "a little house on the hill?" I met with her at what appeared to me to be her residence on the 2nd or 3rd (I forget) floor of Mt. Washington, main building, around 71 or 72 (I forget). She told me that it was Rajasi's former apartment, and it was decorated in a style that seemed to be her own, from what I could see, that is, not a "generic" SRF style of room. I also have a couple of photo's of Ma Durga that someone sent me who was close to Ma Durga, taken she said in the 60's I believe, which depict her in the same room I visited her in. Ma Durga's book also, in Ms. Wight's preface, tells us that she was allowed to see Ma Durga's body in her room at Mt. Washington, leading the reader to believe Ma Durga died in her room at Mt. Washington, presumably Rajasi's apartment.
srflongago Registered User (11/12/02 2:58 am)	Re: Daya Mata's elected president Joan Wight is the only one alive with the first hand knowledge to give an accurate account of Ma Durga's later life. Edited by: srflongago at: 11/13/02 6:37:25 pm
soulcircle Registered User (11/12/02 2:59 am)	is there anyone? all, can i even imagine anyone who will present apparent facts that faye wright didn't *take power, or as has been explained, that the matriarch esther didn't crown one of her own? and faye's account that "master" appeared and told her to is horsepoop perhaps are there even any breathes of rumors (out side of the wright familty originated version), that there are facts that tell of any other version, than that ester and the family crowned one of their own? also, do most of you realize, as has been accessible in the past and perhaps still is on the walrus board, that here or via link (perhaps via the mount washington neighborhood opposition group) a copy of the articles of incorporation that read like one of the most overt structures of a real estate company....self-realization fellowship's articles of incorporation? they sound as well written as century 21 real estate's, or any ambitious real estate company's circle Edited by: soulcircle at: 11/12/02 5:33:46 am*
srflongago Registered User (11/12/02 4:22 am)	Re: Ma Durga declining to be SRF president mangomoy: The quote "...Master had told me my life too is in danger as much as his and Rajasi's were, ..." was interpreted by my informants in a remarkably different way. Perhaps truth IS only in the eye of the beholder (interpreter). The interpretation was that the three Wrights were already in charge of everything, finances, buildings, publications, and that Yogananda felt control of his foundation had been virtually taken away from him and his two closest companions and colleagues, Florina Darling and Lynn.
mangomoy Registered User (11/12/02 9:18 am)	Re: Ma Durga declining to be SRF president srflongago: Would it be possible for you to please add a few comments to clarify your above posting? Apologies to you, but I don't understand your meaning, and want to. Clearly, Ma Durga wasn't talking in figurative sense about death of the SRF organization. You bring up the point that the Wrights took administrative control of the SRF. According to Master, the lives of himself, Rajasi and Ma Durga were in danger of physical death. How do these two things fit together? Anyway, it's hard to concieve why omniscient Master would have allowed Wright/Brown/Pratt & co. to usurp the SRF and fly it into the ground, instead of overruling them for sake of the mission entrusted to him by Babaji-Krishna and Sri Yukteswar. He must have not considered the SRF organization essential to his mission. Edited by: mangomoy at: 11/12/02 2:32:05 pm
Devotee1970 Registered User (11/12/02 9:55 am)	Re: is there anyone? An excerpt from chapter 4 of Kriyananda's book, A Place Called Ananda (Was he being too generous?): "Rajarsi's untimely death in 1955 came as a sad disappointment to all of us�to me particularly so, for one special reason. I had hoped that the monks, in close association with him, would be able to deepen their spiritual life." "Daya Mata was elected president shortly afterward. She was the natural and obvious choice. Durga Mata states in her book that the presidency was offered first to her, and that she declined it. This offer can only have been made out of respect for her seniority. All of us, including Durga herself, knew Daya to be the natural successor to Rajarsi. Daya had, for one thing, the necessary tact for that position. She also had the best grasp of the over-all needs of the work. There were people who thought Dr. Lewis would be made president after Rajarsi, but Doctor, who had been a dentist all his working years, had little experience in leadership, and none in the actual running of SRF even though he was in charge at Encinitas." "Daya had been in effect running things already during Rajarsi's illness. Some years earlier, Master had placed her in charge of the main office. Since the office was the main activity at Mt. Washington, this meant in effect that she was responsible for Mt. Washington itself. And since Mt. Washington was the headquarters from which directives went to the other colonies and centers, Daya was also the person de facto directing everything, under Master's supervision. In addition, she was already SRF's treasurer." The bigger question to me: Even assuming Yogananda groomed her for this postion (which I am not saying that he did), does this mean that he believed she was the perfect person for the job or that serving in the position was something she needed to do for her own personal karmic reasons? Regarding the articles of incorporation, I wouldn't read too much into the heavy real estate language per se. It used to be common to specifically state all of the corporate powers in the articles of incorporation (instead of just just giving the corporation power to take any lawful action, as is more common today). Lawyers who drafted articles in this way went out of their way to be overly inclusive in listing the powers so that (1) the corporation wouldn't have to amend the articles later if it wanted to do something that wasn't listed and (2) people couldn't challenge the corporation's actions by claiming that the articles were too narrowly drafted for it to do a particular thing. Regardless of import of the wording of the articles of incorporation, power is power. There's nothing wrong with power itself . . . if it's used for good. Hmm . . . Devotee1970
srflongago Registered User (11/12/02 10:27 am)	Re: Ma Durga declining to be SRF president The suggestion of mudereous intent is not mine and is surely entirely unfounded. I would not take a literalist interpretation of what Yogananda said as his intended meaning. He USUALLY spoke in metaphors, and this is surely one. I meant only what I said, that the apparat had already been taken over by the Wrights, and that some thought this was being obliquely referred to. The relation between Wright and Walters has been so convoluted and charged that I would not rely on his account and interpretation of the 1950's any more than I would rely on an account of Faye and her Mata Circle. They all have too much at stake and too many axes to grind. Walter's remarks quoted here bear examination for bias. He seems to discount Lewis as a "dentist". Lewis was a very long time center leader and spritual teacher, highly respected by Yogananda. Mrs Darling got her Kriya initiation in 1928 and was a serious student and teacher from the beginning, highly respected by Yogananda. She was also a competent administrator. Faye was a personal secretary. That is hardly an outstanding resume. Of course at the time Walters was very young. Edited by: srflongago at: 11/12/02 11:13:37 am
Devotee1970 Registered User (11/12/02 11:20 am)	Re: Ma Durga declining to be SRF president Longago: Re: metaphors . . . agreed. Re: Wright and Walters' convoluted relationship . . . agreed. Re: Durga's competency . . . agreed. Re: what really happened . . . we'll never know. Re: peace with it all . . . we'll see . . . Devotee1970 Edited by: Devotee1970 at: 11/12/02 11:23:30 am
History Buff 2002 Registered User (11/12/02 8:55 pm)	Re: Ma Durga declining to be SRF president It is my understanding the the Wright's mother was named Rachel, not Esther. They renamed her "something" Mata, but I cannot recall what Sanskrit word they teamed with the "Mata".
Lobo Registered User (11/12/02 10:16 pm)	Re: Ma Durga declining to be SRF president I believe it was Shyama (sp?, a name of a manifestation of the Divine Mother) Mata if memory serves. She passed away sometime in the late 70's or early 80's, again if memory serves. There was a fairly significant article, taken from her memorial service conducted by her daughter, Daya, in one of the editions of the SRF Magazine.
srflongago Registered User (11/13/02 3:59 am)	Re: Ma Durga declining to be SRF president My memory failed me . That mother Wright was Rachel was probably why I could not find the geneology reference. Thanks for the correction.
Gitano no divino Registered User (11/13/02 12:12 pm)	Re: Ma Durga declining to be SRF president Just a footnote to Mangomoy�s searching post: *Quote:* Anyway, it's hard to concieve why omniscient Master would have allowed Wright/Brown/Pratt & co. to usurp the SRF and fly it into the ground, instead of overruling them for sake of the mission entrusted to him by Babaji-Krishna and Sri Yukteswar. He must have not considered the SRF organization essential to his mission. I humbly submit that this is not hard to conceive at all and that there is a very plausible explanation: He...was...NOT...o-m-n-i-s-c-i-e-n-t! He was just as clueless about the future as you or I. I think this board has more than established that fact, even if common sense weren�t up to the task! What I find hard to conceive is that a man (just that, a man) would devote 32 years of his life to building up something, all the while considering it inconsequential to his mission, and then not give a hoot about its future. That makes NO SENSE WHATSOEVER. Ooooooooops! Sorry, Mangomoy, you�re obviously right. Anything that made sense would have nothing to do with the history of SRF. Mea culpa!! (What was I thinking, anyway?) Edited by: Gitano no divino at: 11/13/02 12:30:06 pm
bheema ma Registered User (11/13/02 3:22 pm)	Re: Ma Durga declining to be SRF president Gitano, *Quote:* He was just as clueless about the future as you or I. I think this board has more than established that fact, even if common sense weren�t up to the task! Hello?! Excuse me? Established that fact?!!! You're entitled to your opinion, and you're welcome to try to justify it if you can. I, for one, don't see, and haven't ever seen anyone establish any such fact (on this board or anywhere else for that matter). Last time I checked, there was this thing called 'free will'. Apparently, so my sources tell me, even God himself respects and honors it. Just because some of Master's followers haven't always demonstrated the highest realization, doesn't mean he didn't. Some of Christ's followers made a just as much of a mess of things after he left the world as anything SRF has ever done or not done. Does that make Christ not a master? Just checking. *Quote:* To paraphrase Master: "So you have inexplicably failed to isolate the Supreme Power in the your test tubes of your mind!" If ignoramuses misread the heavens, and see there a scrawl instead of a script, that is to be expected in this imperfect world. One should not dismiss the wisdom with the wise.' Edited by: bheema ma at: 11/13/02 3:27:16 pm
KS Registered User (11/13/02 9:12 pm)	Re: Ma Durga declining to be SRF president To Gitano no divino, I have another explanation for why things are appearing to degrade as they are. The direction SRF is taking is not God�s will for Master�s message! A central exclusive all powerful and secretive closed cult is not what Master intended. How do you think God would express is disfavor? Vaporize Ma? No, he is allowing the faults to become known, he is cutting off their money, and he is draining the place of monastics. The cancer will die off and Master�s message and the message of all true saints and lovers of God will continue. This 40 year period of the Bad Ladies is just a blip in time and means nothing in the larger picture. No one will even remember the great mata�s.
srflongago Registered User (11/14/02 4:06 am)	Re: Ma Durga declining to be SRF president I do not think that Yogananda was clueless as to the future of SRF. I think he saw quite clearly the character and abilities of those around him, and drew the inference (an inference which I think you would have made too if you had knowledge of the people involved) that the organization carried on by them would not be equipped to bring the message he carried to a wide audience in the West, as he had tried to do. I think this is the best explanation as to why no will or testemant surfaced. It is noteworthy that many organizations unconnected with SRF claim him in their ancestry.
username Registered User (11/14/02 7:35 am)	Re: Ma Durga declining to be SRF president which organizations claim him in their ancestry?

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