Kicked out of Sunday School

SRF Walrus

Mt. Washington, Ca

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SRF Walrus > Treatment of Members/Monastics > Kicked out of Sunday School
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Pig Ma Registered User (1/8/02 10:03 pm) Reply	Kicked out of Sunday School I’m a 16 year SRF member, and I’ve become an advocate against the lawsuit we are waging against A-nanda. Although this is my first post here, I realize that there is a separate section for A-nanda issues, and I will tell that angle of the story in that section. After a few letters to Mother Center (also sent to my SRF friends and newly made A-nanda friends), a call from a monastic, and a meeting with my minister, I was asked to “sit it out and sort it out” in regards to serving sunday school, youth retreat and information table. I accept that decision with joy. (Ah, a welcome break- one that I would have never taken on my own since our temple has a shortage of teachers.) I have been allowed to cook- apparently I haven’t been barred from all service yet! And so now my picture of Paramhansa Yogananda’s teachings has broadened immeasurably. When I use to serve at the information table, I loved telling people, “We are not one of those churches that says we are right, and everyone else is wrong. We honor the truth in all religions.” I still think that is true, even if it isn’t being practiced. I hadn’t thought about it before, but it came as a surprise to me that SRF is claiming to be the only authorized channel of Kriya. What about direct Lahiri disciples, etc. etc? There are many ways that the teachings of Kriya yoga will be sweeping the world! I realize that not everyone feels positive about A-nanda, but for me that is not the issue. At this point I’ve read all of the websites I could find, but it took me a while to find the Walrus and catch up on the reading here. What it comes down to me is this: the lawsuit is harming the reputation of SRF. It’s a big mistake that has costs us millions ( I assume devotee lawyers still get paid) but worse has made us look like spiritual bullies to the world. To do this to fellow kriyabans, despite their affiliation, makes my heart ache. When I started looking into, I became appalled at what is going on. So far all I’ve done is write a few letters and get kicked out of Sunday School. Instead of putting money in the offering basket I place a paper heart on which I write the words, "only love." I haven’t thought of what else I can do at this point. After reading the posts here, I see that there are many issues at hand, but this is the battle I have been called to. I am not afraid to stand up and say “This is wrong,” no matter what the consequences. I am finding out a lot of people feel the same way, but they don’t like to make waves. Hello fellow posters and readers of Walrus, I am happy to join your ranks!
KS Registered User (1/8/02 10:15 pm) Reply	Offering "Please hold what you would like to give to help the work of Self-Realization Fellowship in your right hand..." Those words don't have the same impact on me that they once did. I think most people here would agree that SRF's use of lawyers is way out of line. And yes, the lawyers DO get paid.
chuckle Unregistered User (1/8/02 10:25 pm) Reply	A wonderful offering, Pig Ma What a beautiful offering for the collection plate. Perhaps we could all adopt this idea. If you're not comfortable giving money to Mother Center, offer a piece of paper with a heart that says "Only love," and then perhaps in tiny letters below it could say, "not lawsuits, not hiding away from us, not mistreatment of monastics and lay members...let's talk." This would be one more way of letting them know the message is getting out there and that we want to talk.
KS Registered User (1/8/02 10:34 pm) Reply	Ushers It is a wonderful offering but it would never get past the ushers. They count the loot and would not send it on. The ushers are loyal guys who don't know any better (yet) and would just be shocked. Something more subtle might get by them. A "We love you Ma" note signed SRF Walrus or something, with the website address. Someone would get the message. (I assume he/she would not mind if we used "his/her" name) We would of course be making more work for Sr. Priya and her enemy task force. More meetings, more analysis, more delays publishing important stuff. More crack downs, reading of employee email, lisening in on phone conversations of monastics and employees, etc... It is very time consuming protecting Master's work! Edited by: KS at: 1/8/02 10:36:13 pm
Pig Ma Registered User (1/8/02 10:37 pm) Reply	Re: Offering Thanks KS for the information! I assumed the devotee lawyers were being paid, but I didn't have any information on this. I'm glad to hear that others feel the same way about the lawsuit.
Pig Ma Registered User (1/8/02 10:45 pm) Reply	Wow- you're here! Hi guys/gals- I didn't realize that their would be people reading this right away and responding! Wow, it feels great to talk about this! Just so you know, I posted on the A-nanda section the first letter I wrote to Mother Center. So far, I've sent 4 letters. Each time I think that this is my last letter, and then another one comes out. I'm kind of new here, so I didn't want to just plop all of the letters out at once- but I will be posting them soon.
KS Registered User (1/8/02 10:53 pm) Reply	Re: Wow- you're here! Most people I know are just readers, so who knows who has already read your messages. I too have written a number of letters, most directly to the president. I found from monastics that she doesn't get them, they are screened first. Even letters FROM her are written by someone else or automated. Letters written to a generic "mother center" are often just handled by employees in an automatic computerized fashion. Complaints are marked in a file they will keep of you and sometimes mailings are stopped or your ability to volunteer (help them) is curtailed. You have already seen this. You are doing yourself more harm than good writing them. The matas don't read letters except from large donors. Some of the bad nuns do read and summarize this board so just post your ideas here. Besides, since this board is one of the primary sources of entertainment for some of the monks, you will also be helping to make someones life a little brighter too. Edited by: KS at: 1/8/02 11:02:04 pm
Pig Ma Registered User (1/8/02 11:30 pm) Reply	Re: Wow- you're here! KS, the letters were sent not only to Mother Center, but to specific names as well, including Daya Ma. I know my minister received his. I assumed that they would be handled by intermediaries, and probably never make it through to the parties addressed- this is a big organization, after all. As far as doing harm to myself- what can you mean? I laugh at the "punishment", if that is what it is. True friends have remained true, and when I pronam to the minister after service I get the feeling that he is sending extra love to me, and I try to send it back to him. Yes, I am sure they are not as comfortable having me around. After all, I have taken a position! Obviously, the members opinions don't seem to mean much to SRF. But does that mean we should sit back and say nothing, when great wrongs are being done? I personally have nothing to lose by standing up and saying "What's going on here?!" So I've lost position at the church, if that's what you want to call it. That's unimportant in my book. The universe is full of ways to serve.
cjmagorianaolcom Unregistered User (1/9/02 8:19 am) Reply	srf and lawyers Thank you so much for bringing up the issues of SRF and attorneys. I have been trying to find an SRF ex-member support group for some time. I left SRF over a year ago and went elsewhere, I was so tired of all the problems that SRF has created, the guilt I felt, and when I questioned them about certain things, I knew that they were not happy with me, and I knew that they were being too evasive. I only wish that I could connect with some SRF members because it is hard finding someone with whom I can share my experiences and who could also verify my feelings. In God's love, Jessica
AumBoy Registered User (1/9/02 10:23 am) Reply	Re: Kicked out of Sunday School Welcome Pig Ma, and great posts. You've given me an idea how to respond to the recent VL appeal. I will mail in no money. I will make a little heart and attach it to the response postcard, and it will say "Only Love can take My place." Maybe I'll mail one per week.
chuckle Unregistered User (1/9/02 5:03 pm) Reply	to Jessica Jessica, your post touched me. This is one of the truly, truly sad things that is a result of all the problems: SRF is losing (rapidly? I don't know--does anyone know?) many of its finest members. I've seen so many messages on this board by articulate, bright, caring souls who are fed up with SRF and are leaving. It just boggles the mind that SRF management can't see what's happening. SRF has (but perhaps not for much longer) a bright, intelligent, loving laity and yet they are pushing them all away. Look at what happened to Pig Ma! Unbelievable--he's prevented from serving just because he's asking questions out of a concern for Master's work. And how many, many times have we heard this before. Jessica, find some other SRF members with whom you can talk. Mother Center has wanted us to think that the only SRF members who have any brains are the ones in orange robes at Mother Center. Start you own little meditation group. Perhaps you can leave your email address with the Walrus and someone can contact you.
Pig Ma Registered User (1/9/02 9:53 pm) Reply	Re: to Jessica Chuckle- what makes you think Pig Ma is a him? I was going to use Pigmom, since I have a potbellied pig as a pet (plus a dog, too!), and it's a moniker I use on a different board that has nothing to do with these issues. A friend suggested I use Pig Ma instead. It seemed to have more of an "SRF/spiritual" ring to it that made me laugh just to read it, so Pig Ma it is. Jessica, I haven't left the nest at this point, but it's obvious that not accepting the party line creates an uncomfortable position to those in charge. What can I say?- I still love the people of SRF! And I loved the A-nanda members of our spiritual family- and yet I am fully aware that both organizations are as imperfect as the people in them- including myself. So even though I am not an ex-member, and I'm not aware of any group of ex-members, please let me know if there is anything I can do for you.
chuckle Unregistered User (1/10/02 6:18 pm) Reply	question for Pig Ma Sorry Pig Ma--what was I thinking?! I did want to ask you a question. From your experience with Sunday School and the Youth Camps, how do you think the younger people are relating to SRF? After all, they are the future. We have one young friend who just turned 20 and is a keen SRF member (as is his dad); he thinks Bro. Atmananda is great (I know nothing about Atmananda as I missed him at Convo).
Reporter Unregistered User (1/10/02 9:59 pm) Reply	What kids? There are almost no 20 to 30 year old "kids" involved in SRF at all from what I can see. There are kids in Sunday School due to their parents bringing them, but the young adults seem to smell the dead fish behind the curtain.
Pig Ma Registered User (1/11/02 10:22 pm) Reply	Re: question for Pig Ma I think Sunday School and Youth Retreat have a lot of great volunteers, and that wonderful work is being done. Is there room for improvement? Of course! I can see the kids with their shining eyes and joyful spirits. Some really do connect with what we are teaching from their own being. Others are there because they've been brought. The emphasis has always been to make it fun and meaningful, and I see the kids responding to that. Some of the greatest young ladies I've served with at SRF are second generation, and they have a lot of depth. As far as attracting a lot of youths to actually stay with the teachings- I have no idea how successful we have been or not been.
anonymous Unregistered User (1/12/02 6:55 am) Reply	Writing to the Holy Prez *Quote:* I too have written a number of letters, most directly to the president. I found from monastics that she doesn't get them, they are screened first. Even letters FROM her are written by someone else or automated. Letters written to a generic "mother center" are often just handled by employees in an automatic computerized fashion. Presumably, letters to the bad ladies at their "palace in the [suburban] Himalayas" would be more likely to get to their intended recipients with minimal screening: Ms. Faye Wright 200 South Canon Avenue Sierra Madre, CA 91024-2603
KS Registered User (1/12/02 7:08 am) Reply	Letters Good try! Could even work. Remember that she is not interested in change so there is no real reason to write. She hides from members and monastics because she doesn't want to listen, no other reason. It is exhausting to have to put on a game face too long so she carefully selects who may be closer to her. Also remember that the house next door is filled with nuns who take care of her. We can assume Faye doesn't walk out to get her own mail. The only way to influence someone like Faye, so isolated and sure of their Wright-ness, is political pressure. When enough members want change, and stop donating, stop attending, write about it, call about it, and make their discust known, something will change. A letter to Faye just gets into your SRF file. I have written several myself. I have never received a response.
Pig Ma Registered User (1/12/02 8:19 am) Reply	Re: Letters Actually KS, I did receive a response to my letter. I got a call from Sister Priya, and we had a very long talk. It resulted in a second letter being written, which is under the A-nanda related issues. Once a long time ago I got a letter that was signed by Ma. It was a thank you for a donation of 10% of my earnings from a game show I was on. My guess is that staff wrote the letter- I can't imagine her having the energy to respond to all that gets sent her way.
oldtimer Unregistered User (1/12/02 5:14 pm) Reply	Re: letters Does this not say something to you? The only signed letter you ever got was because you sent a lot of money--at least, relatively a lot. I had the same experience. Some years ago I was doing very well financially, and increased my donations accordingly. I began receiving thank-you letters from Daya Mata. Now, I had been donating all along, and believe me, in the poor days the $5 donation was much harder than the big ones were when I was "rich." I also started getting a Christmas card each year, from her. As time went on, as part of the waves of life, I no longer was able to donate as much. The letters and cards stopped. You make the call.

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