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Date:

Thurs, Sep 02, 1999 at 11:39:46 (EDT)

From:

Mel Bourne

Email:

To:

gmom

Subject:

Clarifying some misunderstandings...
Message:
Hi gmom,

...the others are not as bad, so what they did isn't important....John Wayne Gacy, Jeffrey Dahmer, Jim Jones, Charles Manson....none were quite as bad as Hitler...so they are all a buch of insignifigant sweeties?

No, of course not. Anyone who has a disrespect for human life and goes to the extent that these people did are as bad as each other but I don't see Maharaji falling into this category. I beleive that he has the profoundest respect for life to the extent of trying to put people in contact with the source of it and experience it for themselves.

So, by your logic, if Hitler had given you THAT knowledge, you would still have to be gratelful and loyal to him? The qualtiy of the experience could not be denied, the acknowledgement etc would all be the same?

You are extending my 'logic' to absurd lengths, the idea that Hitler could possibly promote an experience of joy by practically revealing the source of life and then snuffing it out in the way that he did is absolutely ridiculous. To Hitler, life was insignificant and cheap compared to his idealogy, to Maharaji it obvious that ideaology is insignificant compared to the value and experience of life. I can't understand why ex-premies quite often compare Maharaji to Hitler.

What if tomorrow he took an Uzi and opened fire on a nursery school? Would your gratitude remain intact? No again, I do not think he would do that, just following what you say to its logical reaches.

I would obviously be devastated by such actions, so who knows what would happen to my gratitude. I think it unlikely to be tested to this extreme though, don't you.

The resentment that ex's hold against Maharaji aren't based on such extremes of behaviour. In my view, they are based on frustrated expectations that have been blown out of all proportion. They are focussed on attributes of his personality that ex's happen to disagree with, rather than on the conviction he has about the importance of Knowledge and his dedication to it's promotion. Everyone has traits that other people may not like, Maharaji included, but I think that ex's have lost site of the positive traits that Maharaji has.

Mel


Date:

Fri, Sep 03, 1999 at 06:33:19 (EDT)

From:

gmom

Email:

To:

Mel Bourne

Subject:

okay
Message:
Yes, I admitted I was taking things to extremes. It is often useful to do that to test the validity of an argument.

I think Rawat's 'behavior' is bad enough to justify many ex's and the general public's contempt for him. Allowing himself to be worshiped as a Messiah, allowing poor premies to send most of their money to him ( or should I say Him as it was it most '70s publications ) so he could live in the height of excessive luxury, allowing many of us to live in Monastic orders where we rose each morning to sing praises to a large portrait of him, and IF he really has discovered that Oh my God...I'm not God...not dealing directly with this revelation by telling all the remaining follwers, loud and clear, that he is not the Messiah. You cannot just decide the I'm God angle is no longer working one day and try to drop it hoping no one will notice. And of course, his mishandling and covering up for the abusive Mahatmas, his hyprocrisy in what he asked of his followers vs his own personal life, and numerous other details listed in this site do not paint a picture of an ethical good man. But even without that, all you needis the Lord of the Universe, the Ashrams, Arti, Darshan...all you need are the things each and every one of us personally experienced, to know he is a con.

Did I find 'Knowledge' an incredible thing worthy of absolute devotion. No. I thought it was like the emporers new clothes. Meditation felt peaceful and nice, when I wasn't falling asleep on my baragon. That was all for me. I have had many experiences since more powerful. My love for my husband and kids feels a lot more powerful than any technique. And my children's first steps brought more joy than any Darshan line.

As far as losing site of Rawat's positive traits. I recall now only one, he seemed to love his own children. I do not recall that his love, however, extended to the children of premies, many of whom were treated very badly by parents attempting to show devotion to their Lord. Where did Rawat say, 'hey, parents, your kids are more important than I am, don't spend money you do not have to come see me, buy them better clothes, take them to the zoo, rent a better house'...did he warn parents about Jagdeo?.....do you recall childcare at festivals? It wasn't exactly going to pass anyone's ideal environment for kids inspection, but did you ever see the places built for the Divine Kids....temporary playlands with no expense spared. No his, love for his kids was just another selfish love, they were an extension of himself...so they were treated well. We, the premies, were what he fed off of. 

5 Brighter than 1000 suns as seen through night vision goggles
4 As bright as the lights on Maharaji's jet
3 As bright as a 60 watt light bulb
2 As bright as a pile of burning ghi on a swinging arti tray
1 As bright as the inner light as seen by the third eye
Other