Thank you ex-l for such an eloquent photo which describes in short what the BKWSO is all about and what you can expect from them. When I showed it to my lokiks, they commented " It's like Miss Universe!" :wink:
Joel, I enjoyed reading your post and especially these lines:
Joel wrote:The Dadis wearing crowns, briefly, ceremonially, an act of love by the members of her spiritual family, with milennariast view of destruction and rebirth. The beliefs of imminent world destruction and eternal reward create a sense of anxiety that can be hijacked to manipulate financial decisions, or to disconnect a person's feelings from their actions, justifying the unjustifiable.
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I am still, sometimes amazed. For new comers like JeanRoss, let me explain that the kindergarden play, Carnival costumes, are very common in this organization, and members have to attend celebrations where such masquerades occur. Many of us expect such occasions to be more "meditation oriented, " but often they turn into what some of us consider a "tacky nonsense" that is just embarassing
and a distraction from the Yoga practise. In reality, there's a good percentage of BKs who feel very bored an uneasy, when at the end of the live meeting with the official Spook B/D, channelled exclusively at the official premises Madhuban, the SS and appointed BKs climb on the previously heavily decorated stage for personal meetings and darshan of the Spook that has also been spoonfed by the top, top ranks.
These scenes often cause, as I said, a lot of discomfort, stirring and doubts in westerners especially and they are in total contradiction with the core teachings of Raja Yoga themselves, such as; no pictures or worship of human gurus, no frills, no privileges and introversion rather than extroversion, silence, no ostentation, simplicity, no more Bhakti rituals. Witnessing what goes on and not allowing our trust to shake is a big test, rather than an empowering experience. If you survive that ...
Better for me to forget and re-emerge instead experiences of absolute opposite nature, such as blissful silence enjoyed in some meditation room. Maybe my understanding of the aims and systems of the corporate world, including a those of multinational company like the BKWSO, is very limited. But really I do not' know how they can conciliate so many different façades. I think it must be difficult to advertise a product (which could be an illusion, BTW!) with many volunteers as salesmen but to a very varied market. One needs to be a skillful and ruthless juggler, in order to succeed.
Who are the target clients? These aspects and events possibly want to appeal to the Indian Bhakti customers, with the risk of scaring away loads of other potential customers and it is not always and totally possible to cover up and hide this kind of offer. Meanwhile totally different products are being shown elsewhere to different audiences. It's like a mixture, a big shopping mall, where you can find hamburger and sprouts, junk food and organic products side by side, sold by the same owner!!
It sounds schizophrenic to me, not holy, not wholesome and with no integrity or consistence. :roll: It's like political transformism. Maybe I am judgemental and not flexible enough and this is why I cannot appreciate it, and unfortunately I do not even find it funny. :cry:
10 Apr 2008
