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crogman1
Registered User
(9/17/02 6:50 am)
Reply 		Why the monastic order?
Why the monastic order? Master didn’t seem to setup the monastic order himself, or did he? I read where the Mata’s all gave themselves names and pushed all the lay members out of important positions. Today the monastics firmly hold onto the reigns of power. This is classic power stuff in a cult, but SRF didn’t start out as a cult. Why was the monastic order built up to play such a powerful role?

I can see where it limits access to power. It allows the bad people to control who competes for power, but maybe that is just a dark view of things. I have never talked to a monastic, or ex, who thought it was a highway to God. Most describe it as a pit of despair actually, a serious warped place. Obviously there must be some who think it is great, I just have not met them myself.

Anyone have any theories on this whole super class of SRF members came about?

Edited by: crogman1 at: 9/17/02 6:51:44 am
srflongago
Registered User
(9/17/02 12:48 pm)
Reply 		Re: Why the monastic order?
The essential characteristic of a true Yogini is the renunciation of all desire. This includes renunciation of the desire for power. Guruship is by etymology the process of bringing disciples from darkness into light, by setting an example for them, not by exercising power over them. It was widely reported that Ma Durga turned down the presidency when it was offered at Lynn's death because she was a true renunciate. Daya Mata took the presidency. We can only regret that her sincere lifelong effort to preserve a physical institution is thought by many to have killed a spiritual one. I hope that a Lazarus will arise and souls will ascend toward the light.

Edited by: srflongago at: 9/18/02 2:41:31 am
Lobo
Registered User
(9/17/02 7:44 pm)
Reply 		Re: Why the monastic order?
From what I've read it wasn't really functioning as the type of ashram we see today until after the death of both PY and Rajasi. Of course SRF acknowledges this, but says by way of explanation that this was "Master's wish," implying that they are only following orders from the Source.

Mr. Walters writes that it was he whom PY made the head of the monks (after a year in the ashram, himself), and that he instituted after PY's death the twice daily meditation routine for all monks (after DM's approval); and that this routine was also taken up by the nuns around the same time. So we have the information that PY didn't even have the "monastics" meditating together twice a day, instead he ran the ashram along the lines of an Indian one where one practiced sadhana primarily on one's own, Walter's informs us.

Yesterday at the Bodhi Tree's used bookstore I found a 1956 edition of the AY. It listed Sister Daya as the president of SRF. So shortly after Rajasi's demise she started using the spiritual name. It wasn't until later, after she'd toured India, again Walter's informs us, that she began using Mata. Thereafter all the nuns who took sannyas vows became by fiat, Mata. However, Master himself named Durga, but he called her Ma Durga, not Durga Mata. DM and SRF however always listed her name as Durga Mata, probably for the sake of conformity: a big thing in institutions!

But the years since I've become a member I've seen an almost total removal of lay members from having any influence in SRF, except probably leading the odd Sunday night meditation or such. During the late 60's there were members who had influence in the organization, but that's all changed it seems to me at least.

crogman1
Registered User
(9/18/02 6:08 am)
Reply 		Dennis Weaver
Remember old Chester? He used to lecture at Lake Shrine and was possibly the last lay member to do so at a temple. He has moved away from Los Angeles completely now. One can only wonder what the organization did to that poor man. He always seemed pretty sincere to most of us. I wonder if he is another casualty of abuse by the matas.

wholetruth
Registered User
(9/18/02 8:54 am)
Reply 		Dennis Weaver and Daya Mata
I heard that the Weavers moved to Colorado to a ranch many years ago. Also, they were always very close to Daya Mata, being in the inner circle of celebrities and wealthy people. I believe they have continued to remain close to her. The fact that she is about eighty-eight years old may mean that she is losing touch and losing her grip, in general. At that advanced age the minds of some, but not all, start to get fuzzy. Anybody know how she's holding up? Is she still calling the shots on the BOD, or has someone else seized the reins of power?

Edited by: wholetruth at: 9/18/02 8:56:11 am
member108
Registered User
(9/18/02 8:35 pm)
Reply 		Re: Dennis Weaver and Daya Mata
She is getting frail, fuzzy, and has trouble controlling her temper but she is still in charge. The Board is just for show, for the membership. Like Sadam, she will allow no one very powerful to develop around her.

It will be a cat fight when she dies.

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