Spirit, Religion, Cults and You.
"Those who abuse the power of religion or who only pretend to follow religious practices for their own self promotion become hypocrites and are sometimes perpetrators of evil; they are the wrongdoers, not religion"
Paramahansa Yogananda, "Journey to Self-Realization", pg 178.
The Issues
The misuse of spiritual teachings and doctrine by teachers and groups to control, mislead and manipulate their followers for their own selfish needs.
The profound confusion, pain and loss of faith often experienced by the victims of these exploitive and destructive teachers and groups.
How these issues apply to the Ananda Church of Self-Realization, J. Donald Walters, and the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda.
A Solution:
"Apply the test of reason. If you can analyze ideas with unprejudiced respect and discrimination, you will more readily apprehend truth and discern what is untruth. You are endowed by God with the power to understand if you but use your instruments of intelligence according to the laws He has given. Treat religion with the same spirit applied to the sciences. Without doubt and investigation, many will not reach truth. Reasonable questioning will destroy the shaky supports of dogmatic fanaticism and help to build instead a strong foundation of beliefs whereon the superstructure of faith might rest".Paramahansa Yogananda, "Journey to Self-Realization", pg 303.
Where to start; a new understanding:
"Faith, Doubt and Belief"Article by Paramahansa Yogananda, "Faith, Doubt and Belief", in the book, "Journey to Self-Realization".
Excerpt:
"Doubt is dynamic energy that should be properly harnessed to move us to progressive actions. If by constructive doubt we destroy some of our cherished theories, even that is better than just blindly and dumbly following others--"the blind leading the blind." Constructive doubt in regard to divine matters will move us toward truth more quickly than will dogmatic belief. The latter makes us lack the clarity of mind necessary to perceive correctly the truth already given to us by God."
Knowledge and Information
The misuse of spiritual teachings and doctrine by teachers and groups to control, mislead and manipulate their followers for their own selfish needs:
"Mother's Message"A message from the woman known as Ammachi on the issue of false teachers
Excerpt:
"When you dwell entirely in the mind and ego, you are not concerned about others; you are thinking only about yourself, and about wealth, power, and recognition. Intellectuals interpret the teachings of the scriptures and the masters of their religions to suit their own ideas, and unsuspecting people fall easy prey to those distorted definitions of the truth and end up in conflict with themselves and others. This is what is happening in our society. The intellectuals become leaders and revered advisors. Their followers idealize them and worship them as God. In fact, God has been forgotten; the truth and the essential principles of religion, the very purpose of religion and religious practices, are being ignored."
"A Critical Guide to America's Religious/Cultic Renaissance"
by David Christopher Lane
Excerpt:
"How can one distinguish between a legitimate and beneficial path and self-serving and corrupt organization? No doubt these are difficult questions, but they can be answered. This article is an attempt to help clarify many of the muddled issues now facing the spiritual community. It does so by offering a unique "crucible" wherein a series of key questions are asked and examined. Each of these questions is designed to reveal the relative degree of legitimacy and authenticity of one's chosen master and path."
"Sacred Psychology and Pathological Narcissism"
Excerpted chapter from a new book by Dr. Ron Mann.
Excerpt:
"During the last decade, many prominent spiritual teachers in the U.S. have become sexually involved with their community members. Some teachers have fraudulently used the finances of the community, and many have used their position of power for their own personal gain at the expense of the followers; Many followers have been bewildered over the discrepancy between the heights of spiritual development reached by the teachers and the depths of psychological pathology that have been subsequently revealed."
The profound confusion, pain and loss of faith often experienced by the victims of these exploitive and destructive teachers and groups:
Article by Dr. Michael Langone, Executive director of American Family Foundation.
Excerpt:
"The ex-members who have made it out of psychological bankruptcy say to those still suffering: "There is a way out. You can trust again. Hold my hand." Instead of the absolutist triad of black-and-white answers, certainty, and hollow superiority, they offer the adaptive triad of discernment, tolerance, and humility. Instead of giving abuse and humiliation, they give respect and love. Instead of advocating unrealistic standards that guarantee failure, they advocate and model a humble, step-by-step approach to solving problems. This step-by-step approach is the pathway out of distrust and paralyzing doubt."
"The Need for Universal Religious Principles"
An interview with Paramahansa Yogananda, 1951, from the book "Journey of Self-Realization"
Excerpt:
Interviewer: "You are a man of religion; but don't you think that religion has been a cause of division, bloodshed, and evil in the world?"
Paramahansa Yogananda: "The existence of imitation gold does not decrease the value of pure gold. Similarly, spurious religion does not diminish the worth of true religion. Those who abuse the power of religion or who only pretend to follow religious practices for their own self-promotion become hypocrites and are sometimes perpetrators of evil; they are the wrongdoers, not religion. Those who exemplify true religion, or dharma,* are a source of upliftment to the world; and they themselves become forever free from sorrow. True religion consists of those principles by which body, mind, and soul can be united to God. It is ultimately the only savior that can rescue man from all the evils of the earth."
How these issues apply to the Ananda Church of Self-Realization, J. Donald Walters, and the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda:
The Ananda church and the teachings of Paramahansa YoganandaOver 32 pages of quotes organized into over 20 topics for those wishing a better understanding of Paramahansa Yogananda's teachings, and how they compare to those offered by J. Donald Walters and the Ananda church.
Contact information:
E-mail: infosp1000@aol.com
