SRCM and Sahaj Marg Renamed as Natural Path Meditation

Since late 2010, several SRCM centers in the US and possibly abroad, appear to have changed references to SRCM in their public meeting announcements on the MeetUp.com and other public Internet sites, using instead a new name of either "Natural Path Meditation Group" or "Natural Path Meditation Center". They also appear to be replacing the term Sahaj Marg with the brand, "Natural Path Meditation"to describe their meditation practice.

For quite some time now, a web search of "SRCM" or "Sahaj Marg" results in one or more blogs critical of SRCM showing up in the early search results. One can easily theorize that such a concerted deception is an attempt to keep prospective members from being informed prior to attending an introductory workshop. Interestingly, many of these Internet meetup invitations also neglect to mention any spiritual Master by name or title.

I am not aware of any official announcement of the re-naming of Sahaj Marg, however, I will honor the SRCM leaderships apparent push to quietly re-brand SRCM/Sahaj Marg. Going forward I will refer to Sahaj Marg as Natural Path Meditation and the SRCM or Shri Ram Chandra Mission as either the Natural Path Meditation Group or the Natural Path Meditation Center.

I hope this clears up any confusion folks my have in their quest to understand more about this organization and its meditation practice.


Michael

This post is re-published from my personal blog. 

MANIFESTATION OF SPIRITUAL HIERARCHIES

MANIFESTATION OF THE COLLECTIVE MIND

We live in a reality that is manifested by our very thoughts. Our collective minds have gathered around a common perspective of Time/Space, establishing a shared reference within the fabric of Ether. Beyond this thought construct, lies an infinite expanse that mind cannot comprehend. Within this construct, however, we share a common reference of Time/Space and share physical and mental laws and limitations.

The Collective Mind imposes a powerful boundary that limits the Individual Mind from venturing into the un-imaginable and potentially mind-shattering realm of the Infinite. Beyond the Collective Reality, the laws and rules that we have manifested do not apply.

When the Individual Mind suspends belief in the Collective Reality, it is able to experience the impossibilities that lie beyond. A mind altered by drug-induced hallucinations, sleep deprivation, dreams or mental instability, can stumble into a realm that appears very real, yet defies the constraints of the Collective Reality. The Individual Mind can also suspend belief through various mind-distracting practices, like meditation or sensory deprivation and have similar experiences. The influence of another Individual mind can also cause in the suspension of belief in another individual mind resulting in experiences outside the realm of the Collective Reality.

Regardless of the method, when an Individual is able to suspend belief in the Collective Reality, any experiences or resulting capabilities that defy the perceived boundaries of Time/Space are immediately discounted by the “rational mind”. These experiences are written off as coincidence, mass hypnosis, illusion, insanity or worse. When the rational mind takes over the experiences cease to occur.

We exist in a web of entanglements that lie within an infinite expanse. We each experience an individual and shared journey in that infinite expanse.  Any experiences of this Infinite Journey are filtered through our collective and individual manifestation. It is possible to remain so entangled in our manifestation that we cannot even acknowledge the possibility of an Infinite Journey, let alone experience it.

In other words:

1. Our mind manifests the reality and associated limitations in which we exist
2. Our individual and collective manifestation exists within an infinite expanse
3.  Every individual is on an Infinite Journey that is experienced through or limited by our individual/collective manifestation.

SPIRITUAL HIERARCHIESS AND THE COLLECTIVE MIND

Spiritual and Religious Hierarchs use techniques that confuse or divert the individual mind from the Collective Reality, causing momentary suspension of belief. This results in experiences that defy the collective manifestation. Hierarchs reinforce the individual’s belief of inadequacy in order to establish dependency on the Hierarch for these experiences. It is an ancient technique and few who are capable of this can resist the temptation to claim their supremacy for bringing about these experiences

But it does not end there…

To create a Spiritual or Religious Hierarchy, the Hierarch focuses the minds of their converts to create an Alternate Reality - an Alternate Reality that overlaps the already established Collective Reality. This new reality conveniently revolves around the manifestation of Hierarch as the supreme sovereign. They create a trusted Inner Circle that reinforces the Alternate Reality.

Any thoughts of the Infinite Journey are obliterated. The Individual is instructed to accept the Hierarch’s manifestation as their own. They forgo any pursuit of an Infinite Journey in lieu of achieving some elusive goal established within the Alternate Reality.

This overlapping Alternate Reality sets up a parallel existence for those who participate in it. It is very real - with its own levels of achievement, always around some ultimate goal, only accessible to those who totally surrender to the Hierarch and his/her Alternate Reality.

Individuals who succumb to this new reality experience a sense of empowerment. They are part of something that extends beyond the Collective Reality. Any sense of inadequacy in the Collective Reality is replaced by the dependency on the Hierarch and his/her Alternate Reality. Participants in the Hierarchy cling to their new reality with a fervor that can be unsettling to those observing it from the outside. This is how Cults are formed.

The process of indoctrination into a Spiritual Hierarchy is as follows:

1) The Individual experiences nothing beyond the Collective Reality and either believes nothing lies beyond it or accepts that they are incapable of experiencing it on their own.

2) Through the association with a Spiritual Hierarch, the Individual has experiences that defy the rational mind.

3) The Spiritual Hierarch claims responsibility for the Individual’s new experience.

4) The Spiritual Hierarch reinforces the Individuals sense of spiritual inadequacy and offers guidance to overcome it.

5) The Disciple surrenders their thought power to The Spiritual Hierarch who uses it to continually manifest an Alternate Reality

6) The Disciple embraces the Alternate Reality and replaces the Collective Reality with it

7) The Disciple becomes enslaved to a new collective manifestation, but one that revolves around a Spiritual Hierarch.

There is speculation that some Hierarchs are sincere and truly have the best interests in mind for their disciples at heart.  It is more likely that these Hierarchs are so entangled in their own Alternate Reality that they are unaware of the damage they have done. It is my belief that ANY Spiritual Hierarchy that claims to have a defined goal and insists that the Individual must become dependent upon the Hierarch and Hierarchy, only results in a new set of entanglements. The Infinite Journey is replaced by a finite goal that serves the Hierarch and his/her Inner Circle and Successors.

THE LIFE CYCLE OF ALTERNATE REALITIES

Alternate Realities have shown some longevity, but none can outlive the primary Collective Reality that they overlap. They begin with the inception by a spiritually adept Individual seeking greatness, however, in order to build their Hierarchy, they require an Inner Circle and a series of successors. It is the very Inner Circle that sustains the Hierarchy, which ultimately destroys it. Dissention within the Inner Circle creates fragmentation of the Alternate Reality. The collective manifestation becomes weakened and the power-seeking members of the Inner Circle loose power over the masses. The Alternate Reality dwindles and once forgotten, ceases to exist.

This life cycle can be said to have five stages

1)    Inception

2)    Establishment of Inner Circle

3)    Dissention within the Inner Circle

4)    Fragmentation

5)    Dissolution

Religions, spiritual organizations, even political movements all appear to follow this life cycle.

THE INFINITE JOURNEY OF THE INDIVIDUAL

Some spiritually inspired Individuals do not seek greatness or choose to create a hierarchy around themselves. They silently proceed on their respective Infinite Journey, occasionally inspiring other individuals to peek outside their own manifestation and into the Infinite. This powerful and silent thread weaves throughout the history of humanity and influences every age, every religion and every spiritual movement.

These Individuals generally remain nameless, choosing not to participate in the enslavement of the masses or creation of Alternate Realities. They instead inspire others, one by one, without asking for anything in return or attracting attention to themselves. These inspired Individuals are everywhere and exist in all time.

Those who seek out such Individuals for guidance are rarely successful. This is not due to their being unworthy. What limits seekers is the very belief that they are not worthy of experiencing the Infinite on their own and must seek guidance. Once a seeker realizes that they themselves are whom they seek, they begin to receive the infinite bounty that exists beyond our Collective Reality and the Infinite Journey commences. The Individual embraces their existence for what it IS without the need to manifest anything to justify their Is-Ness.

SPIRITUAL MATERIALISM

As SRCM and its offshoot organizations experience turmoil and disputes amongst its most senior members and leaders, it brings into question the founding principles of the organization and the meditation practice itself.

The Buddhist monk Chogyam Trungpa wrote the book "Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism in 1973 that inspired me in my early spiritual practice prior to my introduction to SRCM. Having gone through the SRCM experience for over 10 years and having yet another nearly 20 years since my departure to process that experience, I have had lots of time to develop some thoughts of my own on the subject of Spiritual Materialism. While my article on my other blog   is not specific to SRCM, it seems a timely subject given the current circumstances that SRCM finds itself in.


I've put a link to the article below:

     Spiritual Materialism

 IS-NESS: An Alternative Spiritual View

 

 " Given that I have forsaken the concept of a goal based path and have embraced the Infinite Journey, I have been forced to adopt a different view of things based on nearly 3 decades of experience in the Yogic, Sufi, Mystical Christian and Shamanic traditions. Like any intellectual pursuit in the realm of spirituality, my personal view is limited by my own human mind’s inability describe the Infinite Experience - so suffice it to say it is an evolving and limited description that I have formulated on my personal and inexplicable Infinite Journey. While it is yet another attempt create an organized spiritual view of something that is inherently inconceivable, I have found it extremely helpful and have chosen to share it here for others to benefit from."    more... 

The Law of Creation
Reprinted From Personal Blog: SkaiJourney

Creation
At the moment of creation the Creator/Primordial Singularity transformed into an infinitely expanding sea of energy. Vibrating from the moment of creation, energy organized into living matter, forming new singularities capable of new creation. This process of unfolding transforms into life that creates new life, linked inextricably to the Creator by the vibration emanating from the instant of creation.

We are made of spirit, energy and matter, spawned from the Primordial Singularity. We are singularities, responsible for our own creation.

Co-Creation
We are not self contained creators however. We do not create our reality in a vacuum. The source of our spirit-energy is not us, but around us. The initial gift of life, the primordial spirit-energy, comes from the Creator. We all share this common gift, however, we also rely on energy co-created by others for sustenance. We evolve through co-creation, which happens when we acknowledge the link our spirit-energy has with that of the Creator and Co-Creators and truly surrender to the creation process.

Co-Dependency
Sprit-energy is organized into inter-linked singularities with a diverse set of motivations to create. These spiritual motivations range from passive, cooperative to power seeking.

Self serving, power seeking sprits exploit the willingness of passive spirits to steal their spirit-energy in order to expand their influence upon the co-creation process. This aspect of creation law, insures that inactive co-creators are subsumed by active ones in a co-dependent cycle of creation and re-creation.

Such co-dependent spirit-energy relationships create an unbalance in the universe. Just as the Creator, as a sole singularity was compelled to spawn the creation, exploding into an expanding creation of many, any attempt by creative elements to merge into one singularity will also eventually result in destruction and re-distribution of energy. This satisfies the law of creation as it results in the process of re-creation. All that have merged into the singularity are destroyed, returned to an elemental state and scattered across time-space to form new organized pockets of creation. This cycle occurs again and again as spirit-energy power continues to revolve around an unsustainable, unbalanced cycle of dependency. This is the law of creation and re-creation.

Inter-Dependency
Spiritual Sovereignty is the sustainable process of co-creation. To remain sustainable, it requires balance. This balance requires that spirit-energy singularities continue to create, at the same time respecting an nurturing the creation of other singularities. No singularity can exist without creating. Likewise, no singularity that swallows up others to amass power and creation autonomy, can be sustained without eventual destruction. Most importantly, no singularity can be sustained without depending on spirit-energy from outside itself.

Sustainability
We as spirit-energy beings are linked and live by the laws of creation. At one end of the spectrum, we must create or be swallowed up by other creation forces. The law of creation insures this. At the other end of the spectrum, when we fail to maintain balance through co-creation, and choose to swallow up and control others, our creation will ultimately be destroyed to release creative energies to reorganize into sustainable sprit-energy. These aspects of creation and sustainability exist on all levels of existence.

When spiritual guidance devolves into a co-dependent relationship, it creates an imbalance in creation. Sustainable spirituality requires two things:

1. Co-Creators surrender to their natural requirement to create
2. Co-Creators seek sustainable relationships with the Creator and its co-creators.

At the universal level, balance is always maintained. At the human level however, tragic consequences occur when an individual relinquishes their responsibility to create and surrenders their essence to other creation forces. The tragedy grows exponentially, when others choose to exploit passive spirits to create a power base to fuel their own personal creation. There is no sustainable version of such co-dependencies. There is no benign version of co-dependent master/disciple relationships that doesn't ultimately result in the destruction of both the master and disciple. Demanding that the masses surrender to a singular human being, creates an unsustainable spirit-energy creation. We can see this law of creation playing itself out with our world economic banking system where so many surrendered the responsibility of wealth creation to a few, and the few created unsustainable banking structures. The natural result is total destruction and redistribution of wealth.

Surrender

True surrender comes when co-creators surrender to the process of co-creation. The concept of surrender is perverted by those who insist that we surrender our god given ability to create to another in exchange for salvation, security, or the common good. This, by any other name is slavery. It always results in its own destruction in order to renew the creation process.

Before our eyes we can see spiritual, religious, political, and economic structures created and destroyed just as we see co-dependent relationships in our individual lives result in destruction. It is the duty of all sentient human beings to surrender to the creation process. In doing so we must be responsible for our own creation, and sustain it by respecting the boundaries of of other co-creators and fostering sustainable inter-dependencies. Spirituality is supposed to be the process of learning these interdependencies, yet so often, spiritual and religious organizations are created that demand the total surrender of individual creative energy. We must first address our spiritual sickness and co-dependencies within ourselves before we can ever expect the world around us to evolve into a more sustainable environment.

SPIRITUAL SOVEREIGNTY

I have recently posted an article on my personal blog that I believe is pertinent to the discussion on this site. In my younger days during my involvement in SRCM, I did not have the intellectual sophistication to understand principles of spiritual sovereignty. Sadly, these principles were not taught to me by those whom I entrusted with my worldly and spiritual training. Years later, I have realized that my resolve to leave SRCM was due to the affront to my own spiritual sovereignty which has become an increasingly important theme in my ongoing journey. In my heart, I understood this even at a young age, however, it has taken decades to uncover the actual principles that are the foundation of my inner resolve to remain a free and sovereign soul and spirit.

This article explains my current thoughts on this subject.

There have been many comments on other sites that refer to this blog, apparently by people who have either not spent sufficient if any time reading it to understand the contents, or wish specifically to misrepresent what is written here on other sites. Many of these posters have taken the approach of insulting the character of SRCM dissenters such as myself. Recently, the official SRCM.org website was updated to again allow disciples to comment on our blogs (they had been forbidden to do so last year). In that comment we dissenters are described as being "at various stages of our own development" suggesting that disciples ignore our activities and only refer to the Master. This of course implies that we are not sufficiently evolved spiritually to be worthy of having a valid opinion. In addition it shows little confidence on behalf of the SRCM hierarchy, in the discrimination abilities of its disciples to process information from various sources such as this blog and others.

Some disciples indeed have started to post comments on various blogs about SRCM since this new policy allowing them to do so. A few have choosen to make comments regarding my blog as far from the actual source without referencing this blog directly so that readers only identify my name, some vague reference to my blog, and a condescendingly implying that I may not be sufficiently spiritually inclined or informed to have a valid opinion. So it now appears in word and in action that this is the new "official" approach to handling those who question the direction that the SRCM has taken over the years. I recently posted the comment below in response to a few anonymous commenters in Shashwat's site.

I've put it here as a sort of "readers digest" summary of the points made in this blog. I believe it also reflects the key points made on the sites of Elodie, Alexis, 4d-Don, and others. I hope that this helps keep discussions here and elsewhere on track as disciples respond. I am happy to say that not all disciples have taken this tact as a few have commented on this site making their points respectfully.



All,

I fear we are getting into personal assaults, and sarcastic insults as opposed to having an actual debate or dialog. I am also somewhat amused that some SRCM members choose to criticize the contents of my blog in remote comment pages such as this where my words cannot be cross referenced. They have not even the courtesy to include the link to my blog for reference which makes their motives appear to be nothing other than an attack against my character without any substance.

So for reference of anyone who chooses to read it, my blog is: innercircleofsrcm.blogspot.com

I'd like to make a couple of points in my defense:

1. I do not judge Chari, Babuji or Lalaji as individuals, nor do I question their spiritual approach, but it is within my rights as a thinking human being to have opinions about their actions and the results of their actions. It is also my human birthright to choose who I should trust and obey based on my own discrimination. I should be free to explain to others how I came to choose whom I trust and obey and whom I do not and why.

2. I make no claims to my own spiritual approach, however not claiming to be a Master or in the "Central Region" does not negate the validity of my arguments.

3. I reinforce this by encouraging all who comment on my blog that their experiences and personal analysis and opinions are valid and worth considering. I discourage comments that are not based on personal experiences and simply reiterate SRCM doctrine without thoughtful analysis.

4. I have striven to provide only verifiable facts on my blog that I can reference or have directly experienced. I've also clearly identified where comments are my analysis and opinion and base them on facts not myths or hearsay.

5. There is no intention to convince people in SRCM to leave. I state this from the beginning of my blog and repeat it throughout. My objective is to simply to state the facts and clear the air with regards to my experiences and departure from SRCM for others to make their own conclusions. This has obviously caused a problem within SRCM as evidenced by the personal attacks on me and my character.


I have worked hard to make my points with truthfulness, and integrity. I may have angered some by being a little too critical of their comments, and I apologize for any hurt feelings. In every instance, however, I have striven to abide by what I have outlined above.

Since many commenting here will likely not take the time to actually read my Blog in detail yet use its title as a basis for sarcastic conclusions, I'll make my key points here. I'll keep them simple:

1. In the late 70s SRCM was presented as a light organizational structure established to provide spiritual training.

2. Training was offered for free. Books were few and very affordable. The practice was practical for a typical householder with a family and career. The practice was not marketed to the community, but was simply made available, by word of mouth, to those interested. There was no urgent need to grow numbers. Quality not quantity was the motto. The Guru was a friend and a guide, not one who was worshiped. Meditation was taught out of the homes of preceptors and disciples. Discrimination of what is right and wrong was supposed to be developed as part of the practice. Gatherings were done in rented halls and peoples homes. These were the principles in which attracted myself and many others at that time.

3. As one got more involved, one discovered that SRCM claimed to provide exclusive access to higher reaches of development. In other words, no other system could compare. The Master was deemed as the highest living evolved Master and it was eluded to that he might be "the special personality" sent to this world to do divine tasks and we were fortunate to be associated with such a person.

4. Rancor existed between senior preceptors during Babuji's days. There was a major rift between P. Rajagopalachari and several other senior members as well as Babuji's sons. This rancor only continued in Babuji's death.

5. As SRCM evolved, meditation training and gatherings required purchased property by SRCM. Disciples were constantly expected to purchase expensive books and book subscriptions. The Organization itself became an entity that one must serve and be obedient to.

6. Unquestioning obedience became expected of every disciple. The concept of developing Discrimination appears to have been eliminated, apparently as this goes counter to unquestioning obedience and implies that such obedience must be earned out of the discrimination of the disciple not demanded by the Master. Not only had obedience to the Master become something demanded but now obedience to the Mission was added as a critical element to the practice. Disciples are regularly criticized for not being sufficiently obedient and unquestioning of the Master and the Mission as evidenced by several published talks by PR, many of which have conveniently been removed from their websites after dissenters such as myself referenced them in our blogs.

7. An Inner Circle is a necessary tool for any hierarchical organization. It can be used to establish order and protect the integrity of an organization. Conversely it can become a manipulative power structure to control and manipulate members of the organization. My blog discusses this in detail as it applies to spiritual AND secular organizations. I also indicate what I believe are key characteristics of a power based Inner Circle from my own personal experience in spirituality and business.

8. The SRCM organization has broken into at least three splinter groups. Accusations of poisonings and even murder have been exchanged between PRs SRCM and the primary opposing splinter group run by Babuji's family. There continues to be a legal battle over who owns the Emblem, the SRCM moniker, and the property. This indicates that there is something of value and/or power contained in controlling these things.

9. My thesis is that the drifting from the basic principles occurred over the years due to the insistence on creating an exclusive organization, claiming exclusive access to the highest level of human attainment, requiring access to an single living man, no other, to get you there. Out of this grew a culture of power and control. Wealth was created from this power over the years and, as a result, many fight over control of the power and wealth that has grown since the SRCM inception.

10. I would argue that unless SRCM returns to these basic principles and eliminate the concept of exclusivity, these problems will continue. I reference the Yogic and Sufi traditions from which SRCM was derived, and note that they have avoided these downfalls for centuries by avoiding establishment of exclusivity in the Master, Organization or Methods used to train aspirants.


If we want to have a constructive conversation, lets discuss these points. Unfortunately, it appears that the only method to debate these facts and opinions is to insult the one presenting them with degrading, uninformed and sarcastic comments. I will maintain my points and respect opposing points and arguments.

This is a public record, and those who choose to attack dissenting opinions by insulting their character or implying spiritual inadequacy will not stand up to public scrutiny, and I see little point in responding directly beyond what I have done here.

Michael