Does Bhagavan use Tantrics to get powers?
The following article appeared in the August issue of "Oneness Speaks", the newsletter of Rasha, author of the book, "Oneness". ...04 September, 2007(www.onenesswebsite.com)
Hello Dear Friends,
I'm writing this in response to the many requests I've received for guidance regarding the organization calling itself "Oneness University." Since so many people are now asking me whether there is a connection between my own work, as the messenger of the teachings of "Oneness", and the group who are liberally dispensing "deeksha" and "Oneness Blessings" ...which is headquartered in India ...I've been guided to come forth with this information.
Let me state, right up front that I am in no way associated with these people. The book, Oneness, which I transcribed (ISBN# 0-9659003-1-2 Earthstar Press), does not in any way reflect the teachings, the energies, or the spiritual/political influences of those representing themselves as "Oneness University." The Source of my own work is Oneness, the Divinity we all share. The teachings I received and transcribed were provided to empower each of us to make the transition between intellectual belief and the actual experience of a Divine connection ...in an intensely personal way ...each of us within the sanctity of our own inner being. The "Oneness University" phenomenon appears to be quite another matter.
My first-hand observations, while living in India, of many who had just completed the increasingly popular, $5,500/21 day program under the auspices of "Oneness University" and their founders, Bhagavan (a.k.a. Kalki Avatar) and Amma, were puzzling and led me to do some investigating of my own. The town in South India where I've been living for several years is just a few hours drive from the "Oneness University" headquarters, and is a frequent next-stop on the itinerary of spiritual seekers from the West.
What I saw and heard, in speaking with a growing number of these people over the course of more than a year, was disturbing. Many of them were wandering around, completely disoriented. Some of them had become physically ill almost immediately after leaving the 21 day course. And virtually all of them reported that the circumstances of their lives had begun to deteriorate dramatically.
Instinctively, based on the intense training I'd had through my journey with Oneness, I recognized the signs of energy depletion. And, in trying to piece together the signs and symptoms of a phenomenon that simply didn't add up, I suddenly found myself steeped in a crash course in the science of energy manifestation and the inner workings of "guru-dom." What I learned was absolutely fascinating.
The first question that sprang to mind was, "where does this energy actually come from?" And that question opened the door to a vast science, underlying the phenomenon of the transmission of energy ...often in the guise of a Divine connection. I came to understand that most "gurus", whether legitimate or not, come to work with a Tantric practitioner, in the course of their preparation to hold extremely high levels of energy and transmit it to others. In India, this is virtually standard-procedure and an important stop along the way on the inner path to becoming "a guru."
In India, the sacred science of Tantra is an ancient spiritual art, focused in the manifestation of energy and the altering of material circumstances, through highly exacting rituals and vibrational formulas. In its purest form, White Tantra, this has nothing whatsoever to do with the X-rated reputation the word "tantra" has garnered in the West. The work with a White Tantric practitioner serves to fortify the energy field of the would-be "guru" and helps to turn him/her into a virtual force-field, through which the transmission of "shaktipat" or "deeksha" may then be possible.
These Divinely-focused and incredibly dedicated Tantrics, taught in the ancient oral tradition by their fathers and grandfathers over thousands of years, are amongst the true angels of this world. Unbeknownst to most of us, they are tucked-away in India, performing their timeless rituals ...and secretly "making-miracles" for us all ...and for the planet we share ...during these challenging times.
When the services of a White Tantric practitioner cannot be obtained, or in cases of calculated, money-minded empire-building, the aspiring "guru" will often turn to Black Tantric practitioners, (the Indian equivalent of black-magic) who are hired to work behind-the-scenes to supply the energy that fuels the organization ...for vast sums of money. When the exorbitant fees of these Black Tantrics start to escalate over time and cannot be paid as demanded, the project often begins to veer out of control.
Where one might naturally assume that an absolute fortune must be sitting in the "guru's" coffers with which to complete building projects and other un-met commitments, in fact, the cupboards are bare. The situation becomes desperate. And suddenly, many of the goings-on surrounding the "guru" become puzzling and don't add up. According to the information I received, this could well explain the phenomena I'd observed and the other reports from South India that just didn't make sense.
At the same time, you might ask yourself "what's the harm in it, as far as I'm concerned? Energy is being transmitted through "deeksha." That has to be good. Right?" This question opened up an entirely different avenue of exploration. And the information I uncovered in delving into it, proved to be equally fascinating.
When a "guru" establishes a connection with a spiritual aspirant, through the imparting of energy ...often accompanied by a secret mantra ...a spiritual cord is established through which, in theory, the "guru" can continue to feed the student with energy. This is part of the timeless tradition of "guru" and disciple. And when practiced with integrity, it can supply the aspiring student with an abundant energy-boost that can greatly accelerate the process of spiritual transformation. It is for this reason that so many feel guided to seek to affiliate with an Indian "guru", to receive "deeksha" or "shaktipat", or simply to be in the physical presence of such a one, whose vibration is extremely high.
What we often don't suspect, is that the spiritual cord which the "guru" establishes with his student through these practices, is able to carry energy both ways. When the "guru" has dubious connections himself, or has motives that are rooted in ego and spiritual empire-building, the cord can be used to direct the energy-flow the other way and literally "vacuum-out" the unsuspecting student, vibrationally. This could explain why, after being in the presence of certain "gurus", what may have started-out feeling quite nice, suddenly doesn't feel good at all.
Initially, in these unscrupulous practices, the student is given a little dose of energy. At first. In this way, any doubts or concerns one may have had are soothed. And we become open ...and trusting. It is only later that the tap is re-directed, and the energy begins to flow the other way ...from the student to the "guru." In cases where the integrity of the "guru" and his organization is further compromised by an affiliation with a Black Tantric practitioner, the unsuspecting student's energy is actually sucked through the "guru" and filtered directly to feed the Black Tantric individuals who stand behind the entire "spiritual" super-structure.
In cases where certain individuals have received an initiation and are declared to be qualified to be giving so-called "deeksha" energy to others, a spiritual cord has been well established within them, to the extent that they would be able to function as mediums for the guru. And through these people, the energy of others can be drained. In this way, the insidious practice of energy piracy can be practiced clandestinely by certain so-called Indian "gurus", while couched in lovely, believable-sounding spiritual jargon calculated to ensnare the hearts ...and wallets ...of sincere and financially affluent seekers in the West.
It turns out that this is a practice that is actually quite widespread in India ...and elsewhere. And according to the information I uncovered, this could well explain the mysterious symptoms so many have been reporting. Who would ever have suspected it?
So, what is the message to all of us, in revealing this perhaps astounding information? I would say to you that the lesson here is discernment. As western spiritual seekers, we are often naive and trusting where "gurus" ...and where anyone sporting a little amped-up energy ...is concerned. We are often far too quick to give our power away and serve ourselves up on a platter, which we then place at the feet of someone whose affiliations may be questionable.
The opportunity in these times of mass spiritual awakening and inner re-directedness, is to become spiritually "street smart." Everything coming down the spiritual pike is not necessarily Divinely-inspired. There are all sorts of scams, fronted by individuals who are parading around as "Divinity incarnate", in these times. It is for those of us who are sincerely God-focused, to be extremely careful in selecting those who will help us on our own personalized path to the Divine inner-connection I've come to know as "Oneness."
The message I documented in the name of that Source is a message of Self-empowerment. The teachings of Oneness guide us in sourcing the experience of the Divinity harbored within our own inner depths, without getting ensnared in the trappings of a spiritual hierarchy or a religious organization. Should we feel that the guidance of an incarnate teacher is desired, Oneness helps us to take care in selecting him or her.
The message in bringing the foregoing information to light is to encourage each of us to do our homework. Resources abound in these times that support us in investigating thoroughly those whom we may be considering as candidates for guiding us into the sacred ground that awaits us within. The internet is brimming with firsthand stories of those who have blazed the trail before us with virtually any "guru" you may be considering. Google them ...freely! You may find that by adding a word like "scam" to names you might wish to investigate, the Google results become particularly eye-opening.
I have hesitated a thousand times before choosing to come forth with the results of my own investigation into the dynamics of "guru-dom." Some may wonder if I have personal motives for doing so. I can tell you, in all honesty, that I do not. My only hope, in presenting this information to you, is to spur you on to investigate for yourself, and to draw your own conclusions.
The book entitled "Oneness", which I transcribed, is not associated in any way with any other teacher, guru, or organization that may also be using the name "Oneness." I have, thankfully, never received "deeksha" or a so-called "Oneness Blessing" from anyone affiliated with the "Oneness University" people in India.
I realize that I have stepped way out on a limb in sharing this information with you. And I have done so because I felt deep in my heart that, in light of what I discovered, it would be irresponsible of me not to share it.
I wish each of you every joy and blessing on your personal journey to Oneness!
Rasha
My open letter to you all, printed above, and the choice to come forth with it at this time, was inspired by the following passages, received from Oneness a few days ago. I am including the communication here, in its entirety, as the August selection of "Oneness Speaks."
August 2007
Let the fullness of this Presence permeate your awareness in this moment. And let us know that we Are Oneness, together. Let there be no question or doubt of this. For we are here now, reminding you yet again of what is unquestionable. We have danced this dance so many times before, the footwork is as natural as breath itself. And yet, there is a newness to every step and twirl we take in the process of bringing this synchronization of the manifest and the un-manifest into the consummate state of Divine Union once more. We call this state of Beingness "Oneness."
There are many who call this state of Divinity by other names. And they declare their allegiance to a myriad expressions of the same One Source. That does not make any of them more right or more wrong than another. It speaks to the diversity with which humankind has expressed its spiritual passion, since time immemorial. And they will continue to personalize this expression of Divine connectedness as we move more fully into these times of enhanced spiritual awareness. For that is the nature of humanness, regardless of whether one's passion is toward the Divine or toward any other material expression of one's experience in the realm of the physical.
The Here and Now in which you find yourself playing-out this journey in self-confrontation and Self discovery is a virtual kaleidoscope of impressions, each perceived vividly, and believed to be the definitive expression of universal truth. When one encounters a teacher, a path or a book that rings true, it is as though one has happened upon the ultimate word in spiritual expression. In that particular set of eyes, all else pales by comparison. And blinders are donned, from that point forth that could prevent the spiritual aspirant from becoming distracted by anything else that might beckon for one's attention. What is less apparent is the extent to which others are having similar or identical experiences, albeit via a different avenue. The diversity in expression within the human populace presently making this journey attests to the individualized nature in which the collective unites, one heart at a time, into the embrace of Oneness.
There are those one encounters along the way who have devised methods that appeal to those seeking short-cuts and an effortless route to spiritual awakening. These tricksters and their methods are as timeless as the human quest for the Divine itself. Elaborate schemes are designed, and anointed with sacred-sounding jargon, that would lure the unsuspecting seeker into a false sense of security. It is through these compromised energies that many receive their very first taste of augmented vibration, and they are easily misled into believing that they have experienced Divinity made manifest at the hands of these individuals and the organizations they represent.
Many, unwittingly have lent their own hands to the perpetuation of spiritual scams that are essentially little more than financial empire building with a spiritual twist. Certain timeless spiritual truisms may be sprinkled liberally through their format, in order to win the public's trust and attention. And in this way, the unshielded individual is able to be exploited, not only financially but divested of his resources of energy, in the process.
Many such scams have arisen in these times which are built on foundations of questionable motives and compromised practices. It is for the spiritual seeker to exercise discernment with regard to what is imbibed in the name of Divine Light energy. For, all that can be perceived as "energy" is not necessarily something that will speed you on your way to your rendezvous with Divinity.
Much that abounds in the spiritual marketplace in these times is energy that quite literally has "strings attached." The token sampling of energies with which you are initially gifted, and which may seem harmless enough at first, may well come complete with energy lines, commonly referred to as spiritual "cords" through which your energies may continue to be drained over the course of time. Initially, you may well experience the feeling of elation or joy during these introductory sessions. Yet, as time goes by, you discover that you are not feeling at all blissful ...and that your circumstances have begun to deteriorate. Sometimes, when the practice of receiving these energy "treatments" has not been continued, it is difficult to make the correlation between the downward spiral one begins to experience and the initial, so-called energy "blessing" one may have received somewhere along the way.
The "cord", by then would be well in place and would be serving those who have created these systems with an ever expanding source of energy with which to attract new followers. The largely unsuspecting givers of these energies are serving as mediums through which the life force of others can be filtered into a central core, through which escalating power and mind-control tactics can then be orchestrated.
It is your responsibility in these times, which are so ripe for the exploits of the spiritual opportunist, that you become discerning in what you choose to believe and what you choose to imbibe vibrationally. "Instant enlightenment" is not something bestowed upon seekers for a fee, hefty or otherwise ...regardless of what may have been claimed. And those who might have you believe that jumping on their bandwagon will get you an effortless ride to Self-Realization have given you something to question, rather than something to be automatically snapped-up.
The foundation of the teachings of this Source is Self-empowerment. The energies that others may be touting are the spiritual birthright of everyone in human form. This phenomenon of radiating "Divine Light" through the hands is not something new. And no organization has a trademark on it. As you elevate your vibration through your own conscientious, self-styled spiritual practice, you will discover that these energies flow through you as naturally as breath, in response to the focus of your attention. You are not required to declare your devotion to anyone in human form for this to manifest. It is a natural part of the human condition and has been so since humankind's humblest beginnings. What differentiates those earlier populations from the one at hand is the widespread awareness of the spiritual awakened amongst you that this is so.
It is in the highest interests of anyone who considers himself to be on the journey to Oneness to be selective in what one chooses to receive in the name of that Divine Source. For the journey that some have packaged and will attempt to market to the sincerely trusting and the unsuspecting amongst you, is not one that needs to be delivered to you from another being ...at any price. It is something that is readily available to you ...absolutely free of charge ...from the Divinity that waits within your very own being. That connection is best made within the sanctity of one's own sacred self and doesn't require fanfare, the trappings of methodology and complicated systems of man-made dogma.
It is all so simple. So pure. And so readily available ...when you cease seeking it from the world outside you ...and in the sanctity of your own Inner Stillness you recognize the Divine touch you yearn for as something that's already there. And has been all along. You Are the Oneness that is sought. And you will realize the experience of it when you transcend the need to believe it. And allow yourself the grace to simply know it.
Devotees put their life energy into
Bhagavan's "Gregarious Bank"?
An ocean of information on Bhagavan, Oneness Movement, dasas and much more
I have heard that some people get powerful experiences with Bhagavan. I would not have thought that someone lacking the purest of intentions could give such states. What do you think? Or are you saying that neither you, nor others got high experiences with Bhagavan or deekshas?
Freddy (Freddy Nielsen left the Oneness Movement after being one of Bhagavans closest disciples for 15 years): I have never denied that I or others have had deep experiences with Bhagavan and/or deekshas. I have seen and experienced it for myself.
For some time I was wondering how all this could coexist. On the one hand I knew for sure that people were getting powerful experiences. On the other hand I also knew about all the facts I have shared in these answers: over-promising, rewriting history, denying facts and other fear based activities.
In Russia, there is a widely accepted explanation as to why devotees of inauthentic gurus, such as Sai Baba, get miracles and “divine” states when contacting the guru mentally. Many spiritual teachers and respected healers agree with this explication. It is called “Egregor” in Russian, which approximately could be translated as “The Gregarious Bank” (GB).
The gist of it is: When a group of individuals are praying to or worshipping some unseen deity or a physical person, people are giving away life energy. It is similar to donating money to the bank account of a guru.
For example: The more devotees Sai Baba has and the more intensely they pray to and worship him, the richer and more powerful the GB of Sai Baba will be.
Miracles and divine states can be received through pure faith. This has been described as “you get what you believe” and “faith can move mountains”.
The “Placebo effect” is another powerful tool. There have been many well documented experiments in which patients who got ordinary sugar pills had the same healing results as patients who were given the real medicine.
Dr. Joe Vitale has described an experiment in which two groups of people got their bad knee operated on. In group #1, the knee was operated on as usual. The people in group #2 thought they got a real knee operation, whereas in reality they did not. They just got a pseudo-operation where they were anesthetized and similar scars/traces were produced as on a real knee operation etc., but nothing at all was done to the knee. The results were great in both these groups. The effect was almost identical.
If a spiritual authority claims to be God and great miracles start to happen when you pray to him/her, it might very well be due to the Placebo effect and/or the power of faith.
This explains why several “false” gurus, who are far from being in a higher state, can have followers or devotees who are in fantastic states, hundreds of times higher than that of the guru.
Apart from Faith and Placebo, there are other factors that can be the reason for people getting miracles from insincere gurus:
• When a person is praying sincerely to a not-genuine guru like Sai Baba (who might be having sex with one of the young boys from his ashram school when the devotee receives the miracle), the Supreme power, God, can answer that prayer, as the devotee prayed to God in the image of Sai Baba. God will even answer if you pray to a fork believing it is the infinite Light who sent all the Prophets. Try to do it with sincere faith and you will see for yourself.
• We also have the Gregarious Bank effect: As tens of millions of people pray to a guru (Mr. X), all this life energy forms the energy bank of Guru X, which Guru X can “download” any time he/she likes to heal, to raise kundalini in followers, to perform miracles and much more. Not only the guru can use his/her GB. All the people who in their respective countries pray to Guru X will also get helped by the Gregarious Bank of Guru X. As they pray to Guru X, they automatically tune into the Gregarious Bank of Guru X, and energy will come from the Bank and create a miracle or make the kundalini rise.
The problem with the Gregarious Bank is that it cannot go on forever to help you, especially spiritually. It is like a boat that has holes in it. The question is not whether the boat will sink or not, but when.
Some experts in the Gregarious Bank theory told me that the “dark night of the soul” which most people get after the deekshas are because the deekshas have their source in Bhagavan’s and Amma’s Gregarious Bank. This Bank can be used to create temporary high experiences. As it is not the eternal source, the ru(o)bber-effect band will soon turn the high into a low, a depression. The Gregarious Bank of Bhagavan has become powerful as tens of millions feed it regularly with their sincere devotion. An “astral cord” is formed and the guru has become a local internet; whenever you are online with him, part of your energy is donated to his Gregarious Bank account.
Many deeksha takers have the experience that deekshas from certain deeksha givers produce much higher results compared to other deeksha givers. Some experts in the GB theory give the following explanation: some deeksha givers have very pure hearts and very pure intentions; they genuinely want to help people. This attitude opens a direct channel to the divine Source which overshadows the deeksha channel. The Placebo effect as well as Faith will also add power.
Some GB experts have shared about a very good side effect regarding the whole deeksha idea: it opens up people to Placebo and Faith. As Bhagavan promises enlightenment, people (both deeksha givers and deeksha takers) dare to believe more. When they expect powerful results, that is what they tend to get.
Do you think the gurus that make use of the Gregarious Bank effect always do it consciously and to cheat people?
Freddy: I think there are all kinds of combinations. Some gurus might do it with a direct/indirect unloving intention. Others might just suffer from megalomania – they think they are unbelievably special and alone can save the world. Such megalomania can also be partly unconscious. As the followers declare the guru divine and they start to get miracles and high states after praying to him/her – which they probably got through their own Faith, Placebo, GB and God – the guru might actually begin to think he is a god. The step is not far from later claiming to be the God of gods. It is also highly tempting for the ego of the guru. It is said that even angels are capable of falling…
Some gurus have siddhis (supernatural powers) that can be used to help others. Having tasted the intoxicating experience called Power, the siddhi can instead be used to glorify one’s own ego and position.
It was not uncommon that sincere seekers and gifted mystics left Bhagavan and the Movement shortly after having attended one or two events (deeksha). A common reason they gave was that they felt the source of Bhagavan’s power is not pure. These people often believed in good as well as evil powers, in angels and dark spirits. Evil powers are used in black magic and in some forms of healing, and these evil powers can give powerful results. In their opinion, Bhagavan was not using the power of the Light. That explains why, they maintained, he’s making use of unethical tricks and methods, such as: exaggeration, over-promising, over-pricing, hiding facts and so on.
There are people in mental hospitals who claim to be God. Some of them might know they are not God, whereas some of them might sincerely think they are. There are almost no limits to where our ego/mind can take us, if we take it (the ego) seriously.
I do not know exactly how the followers of Bhagavan get their energy and miracle power, it might be a combination of several factors.
In my case, I have seen that when I “plugged out” from Bhagavan and started to pray to the Source directly, instead of to Bhagavan, I got much deeper results; both for myself as for the people whom I prayed for in my courses. I also saw that the participants in my “new” courses did not tend to get the lows, the dark night of the soul, which happened continuously when I was “plugged-in” to Bhagavan.
These observations are of course subjective; they are my personal reflections.
Some people have both a good and an evil side to them. Thieves and murderers can love their spouse and be a good and caring parent for their child.
I think it might be a risk to stay in a broken boat for too long. Up to a point though, a broken boat can even be life saving.
I do not see things as either black, or white. There is only One Life. The Source of life can guide you into a broken boat and can give you lots of Grace, even as you pray via an insincere guru.
That is what happened in my case. I heard a voice from heaven asking me to meet the man who was to inspire me to join Bhagavan’s Movement. That is why I all those years felt guided to be in Bhagavan’s Movement. This was also one of the main reasons that I “knew” Bhagavan was the God he claimed to be. After all, I got an invitation from heaven to come to Bhagavan’s course.
In March 2006, I realized that Bhagavan’s “divine boat” was simply Bhagavan’s own boat that happened to be holy (having holes).
A few days after deplugging from Bhagavan and Amma, I heard the same voice, this time from within, that once called me to join Bhagavan. The gist of what the voice said to me was: “I sent you to Bhagavan, and I have my own reasons for that. Now the time has come for you to leave it, to be free and unite with me, without anyone standing between you and me”.
The ways of God are inscrutable…
Some people have asked if I regretted being Bhagavan’s disciple for 15 years. Of course not; I regret nothing in my life. I was born to this world due to divine will. I was sent to Bhagavan by divine will. I left Bhagavan by divine will. I have realized that everything that has happened in my life has been for my own highest good. The so-called mistakes and suffering were just blessings in disguise.
The reason I share the details about the other side of the Oneness medal is not because I am angry with Bhagavan. If I do not, on a fundamental level, accept a person or an event, it amounts to disagreeing with the divine plan for my life. That would be the last thing I wish to do.
I’m sharing about my 15 years with Bhagavan because I love the truth; and the truth always sets us free. The truth has nothing to lose, nothing to hide. I definitely think that everyone has the right to hear more than one aspect of a story.
For more than a decade I was promising people that Bhagavan was going to give enlightenment to mankind, I inspired people to leave all and follow him. This is another reason I feel guided by my conscience and heart to openly share what happened behind the Oneness screen.