>
SRF Walrus
Mt. Washington, Ca
Open discussions about SRF
Gold Community SRF Walrus
    > SRF Mother Center
        > Rumble of Trouble - Changes being made at MC		 New Topic    Add Reply

<< Prev Topic | Next Topic >>
Author Comment
BigNews
Unregistered User
(2/8/02 11:24 pm)
Reply 		Rumble of Trouble - Changes being made at MC
In case some of you are not part of the email firestorm going on among local members, there have been some big changes announced at Mother Center this week. To summarize:

1) "Daya Mata is stepping down from the business to concentrate on the work left to her by Master?
ANALYSYS: She steps down every few years and it means nothing. It gives the illusion of change and in this case gives momentum to the thoughts that some real change will happen. All of you know of the growing amount of public criticism, and this is part of the reaction. She is NOT giving up the Presidency, this is just a nebulous pronouncement. She still feels the Presidency is a lifetime appointment.

2) Uma Mata has been fired as the General Manager and replaced by Bro. Vishwananda.
ANALYSIS: Uma Mata was a big part of the problem so this is recognition of that situation in most minds. BV is a pretty good guy generally and this is probably a positive step. The nuns like Shivani, Jill, and Mridani are already sharpening their knives to use on his back, but we hope he survives. BV is very very confused by the loyalty issue and therefore has been part of the problem for a while, but could be part of a solution in the long run.

3) Bni. Jacqueline has been fired as the supreme head of finance. SRF has formed a finance committee and put Uma Mata at the head of it. Jacqueline is part of the committee as are a few others.
ANALYSIS: This is long long long overdue. However, Uma Mata doesn?t know anything about accounting or finances so this is just punishment for her or some crazy thing. As GM she let the whole accounting system get way out of control. Bni J will absolutely HATE this and mostly likely ignore it and still work directly with Daya Mata. Bni. J has in fact always worked for the GM but ignored it for 8 years already. Unless they totally fire Bni. J she will still make a mess and the announcement is just a Band-Aid for a terminal illness. Watch what happens to the consultants for a clue about what this one really means.

4) Bro. Paramananda has been fired as the head of the Publication Center.
ANALYSIS: He probably won?t care much as he doesn?t like responsibility anyway and didn't do much with the job. It is only a concern due to all the rumors about the serious layoffs about to happen at that facility. To fire the head guy just before the layoffs roll out may be cause for concern. This item is probably an indication they don?t think that facility is doing very well. Rumor has it he has also been fired from Convocation, but not many of my emails mentioned that one.

Edited by: srfwalrus at: 2/13/02 7:27:14 am
AumBoy
Registered User
(2/8/02 11:35 pm)
Reply 		Re: Rumble of Trouble - Changes being made at MC
This sounds like "As the World Turns" or "Days of Our Lives."

Q: How does one "fire" "family"?

KS
Registered User
(2/9/02 12:05 am)
Reply 		SRF Spin
They will obviously not call it firing! Have you learned nothing Grasshopper?

There is a long tradition for firing. They usually don't inform the person they are being moved directly, which leads to some really humorous stories.

Rumor has it that Sr. Savitri found out about her getting fired from the board of directors by reading it on the nuns bulletin board! Another monk found out he was getting "transfered" to a new ashram when he got a call from someone out of state about it.

KS
Registered User
(2/9/02 12:13 am)
Reply 		Keep in mind
Keep in mind that Uma Mata is supposed to end up the President in a few years. How are they going to spin all this? She knew Master, so that will play well, but she has failed at every leadership role she has had. Of course the membership doesn't know that.

The spin on this will certainly be interesting.

Survivor
Unregistered User
(2/9/02 10:50 am)
Reply 		How Does One Fire Famly?
How does one fire family? SRF is a classic dysfunctional, abusive family.

Speaking from experience as one of the ones they fired, more than once, since I hung on and physically survived the first few, it's easy:

1. They don't work with the person or discuss the situation with him. Why would they need to do that? The facts and the life of the person they are about to hurt are irrelevant. Their own "God-sanctioned" opinion as "channels" and that of their secretaries and the consultants they worship is enough.

2. Because at some hidden level they know that what they are doing is wrong, they attempt to spiritualize what is happening to you by telling you what wonderful qualities you have, or reminiscing about some irrelevant good times, often just before they fire you. Instead of making things OK, this just makes it that much more confusing, and makes the psychological wound that much deeper. They make you crazy, whether you go or stay.

The reality of who these people are and what this organization is is all over this board. Unfortunately, most will not want to see it. I understand. When I first wanted to enter the ashram, I didn't want to see it either, even though I was warned in what turned out to be the most realistic terms possible. The "stars in my eyes" blinded me to the truth and I blew it all off. It seems we have to work it out for ourselves.

One of the key things to understand is that they have no power to hurt us except the power we ourselves give them. When we accept their dogmas, particularly their essential lie about the oneness of SRF and Master, when we give them our money, when we give them our lives, when we give them our identity and our power, there is only one way it can turn out in the end.

What would Master say? He would say to give those things to God. We thought we were doing exactly that through SRF. We were, and many still are, mistaken. This is just another delusion, one of the most subtle and most hurtful, but it seems to be a step many or most of us must work through at some point in our spiritual evolution. It is not an issue limited to SRF; it applies to everyone, no matter what "religion" they follow.

If only we recognized wisdom at first-sight! All too often, we learn only from our own experiences. Master said we can also learn from the experiences of others, but it is difficult, especially when in the grip of a particularly subtle and seductive delusion.

AumBoy
Registered User
(2/9/02 12:01 pm)
Reply 		Re: How Does One Fire Famly?
My comment about "firing family" was kinda tongue in cheek. I've been on the brunt end of "We're making this glorious change for you BS!" Translation: "How dare you think for yourself, you're being moved to a new dept on SATURDAY!"

Quote:
One of the key things to understand is that they have no power to hurt us except the power we ourselves give them.


This reminds me of Br. Tyagananda's talk at Convocation before he left the ashram. It was a wonderful talk.

Quote:
Master said we can also learn from the experiences of others, but it is difficult, especially when in the grip of a particularly subtle and seductive delusion.


I agree. Subtle and seductive, indeed. I posted a comment under You've been discovered commenting on Raja Begum's posts mentioning fascism and the surrender of our thinking to "authorities" who have all the answers and other chilling parallels. All I can say is, subtle and seductive, indeed.

AumBoy
Registered User
(2/9/02 4:42 pm)
Reply 		New BOD!
It's new BOD.... I'll have more information shortly but it'll probably be announced in the temples, too. It's official

Vulcan
Unregistered User
(2/9/02 8:23 pm)
Reply 		re: new BOD
Quote:
People will do anything, no matter how absurd, in order to avoid facing their own souls. They will practise [sic] Indian yoga and all its exercises, observe a strict regimen of diet, learn theosophy by heart, or mechanically repeat mystic texts from the literature of the whole world—all because they cannot get on with themselves and have not the slightest faith that anything useful could ever come out of their own souls. Thus the soul has gradually been turned into a Nazareth from which nothing good can come. Therefore let us fetch it from the four corners of the earth—the more far-fetched and bizarre it is the better! I have no wish to disturb such people at their pet pursuits, but when anybody who expects to be taken seriously is deluded enough to think that I use yoga methods and yoga doctrines or that I get my patients, whenever possible, to draw mandalas for the purpose of bringing them to the “right point”—then I really must protest and tax these people with having read my writings with the most horrible inattention. The doctrine that all evil thoughts come from the heart and that the human soul is a sink of iniquity must lie deep in the marrow of their bones. Were that so, then God had made a sorry job of creation, and it were high time for us to go over to Marcion the Gnostic and depose the incompetent demiurge. Ethically, of course, it is infinitely more convenient to leave God the sole responsibility for such a Home for Idiot Children, where no one is capable of putting a spoon into his own mouth. But it is worth man’s while to take pains with himself, and he has something in his soul that can grow.
From Dreams by Carl Jung.

I am also reminded of a wonderful story about Swami Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON (the Hare Krishna movement, in vernacular.) During an interview with the press he was taken to task for the idea that he, or anyone, could be omniscient. A skeptical reporter asked, “Well, if you are one with the universe, tell me how many windows there are in the United Nations building?” He replied, “How many drops of water in a mirage?”

None of these things matter, my friends. So long as one is obsessed with them, on either side, one is sidetracked. Let us give Master the last word.
Quote:
My heart needed no tutor for its recognitions, and cried a spontaneous “Bravo!” the more resoundingly because it was unoften summoned from silence. When I finally met my master, by sublimity of example alone he taught me the measure of a true man.

oldtimer
Unregistered User
(2/10/02 1:51 pm)
Reply 		Bravo!
Wow. What a quote. You know how certain ideas or thoughts strike home when the mind and heart are ready; this has done that for me. I realize that even if SRF were as I fantasized it to be, things would be no different. I would still need to let go of it, and walk my own path to God--with the Guru at my side every step.

So long, folks. The board has been a help to me, but everything that can be said has been said.

Lobo
Registered User
(2/10/02 6:29 pm)
Reply 		Re: New BOD!
A new board of directors? That's a fantastical development and quite beyond the realm of anything that I'd contemplated happening particuarly when I read the sentiment on this board that nothing will change. If so that's almost unreal.

What is the source of your information? I don't mean specific names of people, or their position in the ashram, it is just that I find it so hard to believe. Not questioning you just wanting to understand so that it can be processed better.

And if there are these changes made how will the members be notified, or will they? A complete new board? What happens to the direct disciples, 'trained by Master' who populate most of the seats? How will the layity comprehend that new signal which is something like this, "lesser monastics who, in terms of years in the ashram and whom never trained by Master are now in charge of running his organization?"

Looking forward to your reply.

KS
Registered User
(2/10/02 7:05 pm)
Reply 		New BOD?
There is NOT a new board of directors. A new person was added, that is about it. Remember that the BOD is an almost an honorary thing anyway, they don’t really do anything. It is for show, for the members, so they feel a sense of stability in the guidance of the work. The fact that the bad ladies feel that kind of image is needed is a reflection on their attitudes. Real “power” only resides with the president in SRF. If lower level managers don’t like the answer they get from their superiors, they try to run to mama to get what they want. Those closest to the president in this case have the most power.

This change, reported above at the start of this thread, is not really a big deal. Don’t expect much change.

The information was given to all the employees this last week, posted on the bulletin board, told to all the monks and supposedly something is going to be officially told to all the temples/centers.

chuckle
Unregistered User
(2/10/02 8:21 pm)
Reply 		Goodbye, oldtimer...hello!
All the best, oldtimer. I'm so glad for you.

Now the fellowship begins, wouldn't you agree?

BigNews
Unregistered User
(2/10/02 9:07 pm)
Reply 		Size
Those telling me about this felt it was a fair sized change. I can't tell myself, and understand if everyone might think it is not, but some think it might really be something. For what it is worth.

AumBoy
Registered User
(2/10/02 11:14 pm)
Reply 		Re: re: new BOD
Vulcan, I realized in reading this thread again and your post again several times, that, like oldtimer realized, it really does not matter what SRF does or does not do, if the BOD is changed or not, if they can walk on water or not, or whatever. It makes no difference at all. It's about Divine Mommy and me.

Crog
Unregistered User
(2/11/02 6:49 am)
Reply 		Matters
What happens within SRF doesn't matter? It matters to the naive people sucked in and hurt, the people who donate money they really don't have and have it wasted, and the parents who push their wonderful 18 year old daughter into an ashram only to have her abused and tormented for years. It matters to that daughter too.

It also matters to the sincere devotee who is drawn to Master and begins (again in this life?) their spiritual search only to be burned and stop meditating, stop serving, then turning from religion completely. I know many people in this situation.

It no longer matters personally to me, but a lot of people are being harmed in very real ways. It is being a little overly idealistic to think it doesn't matter what happens to Master's work. Like it or not, they do represent Master for many people.

AumBoy
Registered User
(2/11/02 10:01 am)
Reply 		Re: Matters
Quote:
It no longer matters personally to me
Yeah, that's what I meant.

soulcircle
Registered User
(5/23/02 12:43 am)
Reply 		so long oldtimer
Oldtimer,

Quote:
I realize that even if SRF were as I fantasized it to be, things would be no different. I would still need to let go of it, and walk my own path to God --with Guru at my side every step.


The first sentence above i thank you for, oldtimer.
The second sentence provokes the following question.
Does anyone else want to have a thread where we look at the following:?

a shared experienced vs. my "own path" to God
...i picture metaphysical books shops filled with "spiritual"
books on the cover of which is a solitary woman or man
sometimes sitting in a lotus...

....and i am sad

...when will the day come when we can walk into the above
book shops and see covers, numerous covers with
group people covers, groups of friends, communities
and families "on their shared path to goddess/god

...and my smile can return

...as i write my own question for myself is when will
i sit reading a walrus post or writing one, with a
friend or two as i do so
...smiling and almost chuckling....sooner than i think

...another example, kamala was on her "own path" to god

yet in summers it included paramahansa and mutual
friends.....day after day at 11pm it included her husband
ed silva in the back seat of a car with her and paramahansa

in the front seat faye and ginnie wright one of them
driving

most days paramahansa would leave visitors and ringing
phones, etc and get away from san raphael avenue for
that hour or so, before returning to write in the mornings
wee hours......my point ....daily kamala would sit hand in
with two friends sitting in the back seat going
for a refreshment or quiet relaxation
under the stars

kamala also had five dogs (one half wolf)
the six shared the bed and their night rest

.......and they smiled and laugh

__________

so does anyone want to have a thread where we look beyond
the solitary path and acknowledge a holistic option
of song, dance, companion paths circling in joy

"our paths" woven
among kindred

Quote:
So long, folks. The board has been a help to me, but everything that can be said has been said.


Oldtimer,
: ) May the longtime sunshine upon you
...our love surround you
......and the pure light within you, guide your way within and among your friendships and community

soulcircle

Carbohydramoy
Registered User
(5/29/02 1:14 pm)
Reply 		Re: so long oldtimer
Hearing a Robin Williamson/Mike Heron quote REALLY brings back the memories...

"Certainly, the children have seen them, in quiet places where the moss grows green...."

<< Prev Topic | Next Topic >>

Add Reply

Email This To a Friend Email This To a Friend
Topic Control Image Topic Commands
Click to receive email notification of replies Click to receive email notification of replies
Click to stop receiving email notification of replies Click to stop receiving email notification of replies
jump to:

- SRF Walrus - SRF Mother Center -



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