SWAMI RAMA WAS SUPPOSEDLY BORN in 1925, and allegedly grew up as an orphan in northern India. His devotees hovered near the ashram's entrance, hoping for final instructions or a blessing from the guru. At the time of death she went into deep samadhi and consciously dropped her body. And in that idyllic environment, the immortal guru-disciple relationship was given to unfold, with Ramas students believing that he could read their minds and heal sickness with the power of his superconsciousness, etc. Rose, they explain, was not a disciple of Swami Rama, but had been invited by family members in the Institute's administration to come to Honesdale for medical treatment. Pandit Arya reportedly alternated between disbelieving and believing the growing number of his female students who told him that Swami Rama had sexually harassed or abused them. That doesnt make much sense I ask Dr. Ballentine in a January 1990 interview why Nuernberger is still on the Institute's staff. If she During this spiel, she says, he put his hand on her buttocks, but she told him she wasn't buying it. In private sessions, ex-disciples say, Swami Rama has arranged marriages and instructed disciples to break off relationships. Several of his works have been translated into different languages throughout the world. We could pick a disorderly, poorly run train, one and the same with the Absolute Reality. "I thought: 'Maybe it's the only way he can break through some stubborn barrier in my ego. The FBI has confirmed the existence of a file documenting the agency's investigation, but at the time of publication the file had not yet been released under the Freedom of Information Act. She was my initiate. Live online programs, on-demand courses, and hundreds of yoga and meditation classes. One day Swami Rama called for her and told her he wouldn't be taking her to India that autumn. She recalls that he would repeat a series of affirmations and commands in a hypnotic monotone: She had done very well organizing the book distribution operation, Carolyn says he would tell her. Swami Rama is supposed to have freed himself from the bonds of karma. There is no . It is an instructor. Born in northern India, he was raised from early childhood by the Himalayan sage, Bengali Baba. He was coughing a lot, was very thin, and had bouts of fever. State licensing boards may take away a professional's license to practice if he (or she) is found guilty of "inappropriate sexual contact," which may include everything from verbal sexual innuendos to a long-term sexual liaison with a client or patient. This he was very tired and was anticipating death. Chapter 4 in Koestlers (1960) The Lotus and the Robot give reasonable analyses of the all-too-human psychological reasons behind Gandhis emphasis on celibacy. "Even if I found out-how can I find out? He backed off, Megan says, while telling her that sex wasn't necessary-she could be his special student. They wrote letters to Pandit Usharbudh Arya, their teacher and head of the Meditation Center there, as well as a dozen other people, warning that Swami Rama was a fraud. Hughes wrote Dr. Ballentine a letter on May 22, 1989, quoting Gandhi-Truth itself helps me when I commit mistakes. Reprinted from Sacred Journey, an HIHT publication. It would be difficult to leave that train once we were The real cause of war lies rooted in the individual's unwillingness to listen to the voice of the heart, the inner conscience.Drawing on the philosophy of yoga . In a few months time she would handle his bank account, income taxes, everything. Meditation, contemplation, mantra and prayer Nachiketa learned that death is not the end of Susan says the woman described her own similar experiences with Swami Rama during the past two years. Similarly, gurus in the Buddhist and Hindu traditions are supposed to be examples of self-mastery and right living. relationships, and seeks only that which is eternal, death is not She did receive an anonymous letter from "a friend" in May 1990, warning her that the Institute had contacted "one of the most vicious lawyers in New York City" and that it planned a defamation action against her if she continued her "harassment." Pandit Rajmani cannot entertain the notion that the women's stories could be true. "If you give more weight to rumors instigated by emotionally disturbed individuals and by those who are jealous or vindictive than you give to your own experience of dealing with Swamiji, then you are indeed in trouble." There he founded the Meditation Center. Search by tag or locations,view users photos and videos. They would travel together to England. ", Shortly after Pandit Rajmani introduced her to Swami Rama, Megan says, the guru called her into his private quarters and told her that they'd been together in a past life, that he'd waited to meet her again in this lifetime, and that now they were reunited. On one occasion, she says, Swami Rama ordered all the women disciples to weed out some roots around his new cabin, telling them they were rooting out their samskaras. Death reminds (February 22, 2023). The first is the extraordinary secrecy around Osho at the time of his death. That handling included the Mahatmas denying of a professional education to his older sons, in the attempt to mold them in his image. Susan has received several phone calls and a letter from people she didn't send her letter to. Taoist philosopher Chuang Tzu stated: Birth is not a But their encounters were exactly the same as before, she says-emotionally impersonal and sexually mechanical. Until she'd read a copy of Susan's letter, she told her, she'd thought she was alone. Under New York State law, according to Trescelli, a woman who does not get a medical exam or report the incident to police within a limited period of time has little chance of obtaining a conviction. presenting the ancient Self-Realization pathof In the following year, he served as a consultant to the Voluntary Controls Project of the Research Department of the Menninger Foundation at Topeka, Kansas. Ayurvedic treatments, massage therapy, chiropractic care, and integrative health services at PureRejuv Wellness Center. But something, which is truth, cannot be falsified by having one hundred witnesses. You're bound to get mixed up. because loss and death are inevitable. its work is done. Now Megan says that in a different atmosphere, she would have immethately recognized Swami Rama's behavior as sexual harassment or "sadistic manipulation." The universe was in the process of being created and not everything was yet in order or fully functioning. Jesus taught that Susan's letter detailed her relationship with Swami Rama and the emotional damage she suffered; she sent it to a select group of Institute stair and members, past and present, but has not gotten an official response. People say that Mahatma Gandhi slept with women. But one by one, Trescelli says, the women backed down and decided not to pursue legal action. Ex-members say that Swami Rama also uses his psychological insights to manipulate people. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. Both Chapter XVIII of Boses (1974) My Days with Gandhi and knowledge of Reality and the secrets of life and death. He voluntarily sopped his heart from pumping blood for 17 seconds, and he reportedly demonstrated his telekinetic powers, moving a knitting needle with mental force. She never received a response. He cannot disbelieve his guru. beginning, death is not an end. Our new online platform for community, courses, and content. Everything in human life, he said, is for spiritual She listened calmly as I admitted that I'd worried she might be a victim. In recent years, the harm caused to women by "sex in the forbidden zone" has been recognized in their codes of ethics by most universities and professional associations, including the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association. His disciples believed that the rupture was due to his brahmarandhra (an opening in the crown of his head) being pierced when he attained mahasamdhi. The death of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, the great Rishi and Avatar is a source of puzzlement for many. Marston's lawsuit, he says, was an act of revenge. . 1:02. Pandit Rajmani Tigunait is the resident spiritual director of the Honesdale ashram, as well as a member of the Institute's teaching staff. Answering special verdict questions, the jury found that Swami Rama (a) had engaged in sexual relations with the plaintiff who was 19 years old. car means I am successful, this car helps identify me. Or, I need a We combine extraordinary spaces, systematic yoga practice, and a conscious community to create experiences that leave you inspired and empowered to live your best life. Nestled in the rolling hills of the Poconos, our stunning 400-acre campus is a gathering place for seekers from around the globe. I have personally witnessed yogis casting off the body consciously on many occasions. This is not the case with a spiritual person who has remembered the mantra faithfully. This is identifying imperishable. In May, Swami Rama visited the area again. One of the greatest adepts, teachers, writers, and humanitarians of the 20th century, Swami Rama (19251996) is the founder of the Himalayan Institute. He says that Swami Rama has been his guru since he was a child in India, and that he came to the U.S. at Swami Rama's request to head up the Honesdale ashram. And then he departed, accompanied not by Carolyn, as he had promised, but by another "gorgeous" devotee. He was also accused of kicking other women in the buttocks when they were weeding, already down on their hands and knees suffer pain in the process. She would live with him in the house he was buying. [13], Himalayan Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy, "15 Yoga Gurus That Are Empowering The World Through Social Media", "The Case Against Swami Rama of The Himalayas", "$1.9 Million Awarded In Swami Sexual Case", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Swami_Rama&oldid=1119262827, This page was last edited on 31 October 2022, at 15:10. His students believe he is able to read minds and manipulate physical reality with his advanced yogic powers; thus they believe he can heal sickness with the power of the "superconscious" mind. They will all disappear in the flash we call a human lifetime. Some stay longer, for a few weeks or months in the Self-Transformation retreat program. Sexual contract between gurus and their American disciples is not a new or rare phenomenon. According to his disciples, Vivekananda attained mahasamdhi; the rupture of a blood vessel in his brain was reported as a possible cause of death. Since our interview, Dr. Ballentine has been sent at least two letters by women who say they were sexually abused by Swami Rama: one from Carolyn and one from Susan. Boyd, Doug. He claimed that he was raised somewhere in the monasteries and holy caves of the Himalayas by his personal guru or master Sri Madhavananda Bharati. she remembers him demanding. Later, many of the women broke out in head-to-toe swelling and rashes from what had in fact been poison ivy roots. Swami Rama, she says, would extol his own sexual abilities but tell her she was bad at making love. not anger or any other emotion. [2] She wrote that their statements, two of which were on file with the Cult Awareness Network in New York, fitted a pattern of what she called "sex in the forbidden zone", with a guru, "coupled with institutional mechanisms of defense and denial". God knows whether it was true or not, and even if it was true, this is a normal phenomenon. And people must stop covering up for the perpetrators by ignoring or denying that it is happening. swami rama (1925-1996) was born in himalayas. Minneapolis was the site of another Institute-related scandal in 1981. We arrive here, strive to obtain whatever we think we need, and Encyclopedia.com. A producer for "60 Minutes" was reportedly unable to complete her documentary on Swami Rama when the women involved backed out and refused to appear on camera. "There are 35 to 40 girls here who have compromised themselves at the Dera. prevails, the mortal becomes immortal. That is the key. - Swami Rama, "Living With the Himalayan Masters". The Institute's program is no longer accredited by the University of Scranton. To Nachiketa Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology. Brian, who was a member of the Institute board of directors and a major financial contributor, says he confronted Swami Rama shortly after Rose contacted him and told him what had happened-but the guru said Rose had seduced him. The accumulated testimony of their personal experiences through the years exhibits a pattern typical of "sex in the forbidden zone," coupled with institutional mechanisms of defense and denial. The followers of Swami Vivekananda celebrate his birth anniversary (12 January), but (generally) don't organize (mourning) event on his death anniversary (4 July), as they believe in Bhagavad Gita's dictum " Death means only a change of garment ." [Source] Some followers and devotees of Ramakrishna do not use the word "death" or "died", they say Lord Rama considered that was his fault, and therefore, it was his duty to restore the child's life. Both came from prominent Midwestern families; each had an alcoholic parent, and they now believe they were seeking not only spiritual growth, but also a strong parental figure. There will be a virtual memorial in the near future. thoughts, and bodies incorrectly. Buddhas four noble Many of them say they feared his wrath when they were disciples, and several still believe he has the power to inflict harm or illness on them from a distance. In India. Therefore, its best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publications requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. He was further seen to create a temperature differential of 5 degrees Celsius between two areas on the palm of his right hand. So I visited the house and I discovered that the sound of her mantra was still vibrating there. He says he spends most evenings with the guru until midnight or 2 a.m., and that he knows better than anyone who is with Swami Rama late at night and who isn't. Karen, the woman whose claims were ridiculed at the meeting where Swami Rama and the other directors responded to Brian's charges, was one of the first ex-members to confront top Institute administrators. Had Nirvana said anything? If a hundred people come and say that the day is night and I know that it's not, the voting system doesn't do it here, you know? Swami Rama Dr. Ballentine, the Institute's president and director of the Combined Therapy Program, explains that human beings have the potential to do "all kinds of things, like move our bothes at will from one place to another, or be aware of what people are thinking on the other side of the earth, or inner states of consciousness that take us to the future and the past." life is. 1. On the contrary, they sought opportunities to serve the guru's every whim, or even to be abused by him: Megan remembers one woman saying she wished the guru would kick her. Just like us, he sometimes fails to distinguish the fake gurus from genuine masters, mistaking magic for spiritual . When Carolyn had to work, I attended classes in Hatha yoga or read. The guru spoiled them, they say, calling them his spiritual son and daughter, and soon invited them to come live in Pennsylvania. Brian didn't believe his teacher, and he spoke with several other Institute administrators and board members about Rose's claim of abuse. A short time later, Swami Rama let her go as his secretary-because, she says he told her, she didn't really want the job. A less intense twenty-three-day mourning period The publication of the results of such tests generated a new medical interest in body-mind relationships and spurred public interest in yoga techniques among young adults already involved in reacting to the steady arrival of new Indian spiritual teachers. The scattered parts of the ant moved together and united in a seconds time. She became paralyzed by her fear of angering him. the body. Born: February 18, 1833 Swami Rama, The Art of Joyful Living 3 likes Like "SELF-SURRENDER IS THE HIGHEST AND EASIEST method for enlightenment. 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