• Jesus Warns
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Jesus Warns

against having other masters than himself, but that does not deter Yogananda

Christ, Christs

The term 'Christ' comes from 'Messiah', which means "the (oil-)anointed one'. Its basis is what happened in 1 Samuel, chapters 8-10. In troubled times the people wanted a king. Judge Samuel told them, among other things, "You yourselves will become his slaves." The people still wanted a king! [1 Sam 8 recapitulated]

In the next chapter Samuel found a young man, Saul, and "took a flask of oil and poured it on Saul's head and kissed him, saying, "Has not the Lord anointed you leader over his inheritance?" [1 Sam 10:1] That was it.

The first Messiah, Saul, selected by God, soon went insane. But anyway, the term 'Messiah' meant an earthly king. At the time of Jesus, Jews sighed for a king to free them from oppressing Romans who had invaded their country, among many others. They hoped a Messiah stemming from the second king they got after Saul.

Those who wrote the New Testament, wanted to draw genealogy lines between that second king, a David, to Jesus, so as to legitimise Jesus as king - a descendant of the "house of David". Now the concepts got confusing. On the one hand the people wanted an earthly king, and nothing more. On the other hand fervent gospel writers sought to show that Jesus fulfilled the criteria as a "Son of David", that is, the heir to the throne, by forging his ancestry through Joseph, who was not his father . . . The genealogy lists in the two gospels that contain them, Matthew 1 f, and Luke 3:23 f, differ almost completely between David and Joseph.

Jesus taught among fellow Jews. Geza Vermes concludes that Jesus' message was exclusively for the Jews. And yet the Jews of Jesus' day rejected his claim to be the Messiah, as do Jews today. Regardless of that, almost all Christian groups regard Jesus as the "Savior and Redeemer", as the Messiah.

In letters of the New Testament, the term 'Messiah' was translated into the Greek 'Christ', and swelled immensely, to suggest greatness of the man the Jewish authorities had got executed as a criminal madcap.

As time transpired, the tense new sect called Christianity grew big, and by the 300s CE it first became accepted as a religion in the Roman Empire, and later made the only official religion there, provided that Christians would serve in the Roman army. They did, and thereby ignored "turn the other cheek" to enemies and so on. They were pacifists no more, for the sake of eartly privileges and power. That was what bishops in part were for - to trade values for more power and influence. They had aldready borrowed and copied many well-known emblems, signs and imagery from other religions in the Empire, so they could make an impression on people.

Later, as armed Christianity grew bigger, the sect was called a religion, a world religion, and the term 'Messiah' or 'Christ' became coveted by others, even though it usually refers only to Jesus of Nazareth among Christians. Although there were many different views of Jesus and a wide range of titles attributed to him in the early church, only some of them have been canonised. 'Christ' and 'Son of God' are heavy-weighters, and Kyrios (Lord, Master) refers to him over 700 times. There are also Bread of Life, Light of the World, the Door, the Good Shepherd, the Resurrection of Life, the Way, the Truth and the Life, the Vine. Further, the Gospel of John opens by identifying Jesus as the divine Logos, "the Word". Still, some scholars state that Jesus never made a direct claim to divinity.

Nowadays there are many Christs around, including The New Christs, an Australian rock and roll band. The New Age movement generally teaches that Christhood is something that all may attain, and contains a wide variety of views on Jesus. The commonly held view among the Hindus is to accept Jesus Christ as one of the many deities to be respected and prayed to.

Jesus warned that there would arise counterfeit Christs who would claim to be the saviours of the world [Matthew 24:4,5; 24].

[Sources include Wikipedia, s.v. "Christ," "Jesus".]

The Christianity-Saved, the Deep Sacrifice

What is being saved? We could do well to refute adverse opinions thoroughly and well, and present what is proper and liberating instead, says Maha-parinibbana Sutta 3:43. Wrong teachings have it in them to be able to deform minds and lives with time.

The New Testament message of salvation is that it is a channeled gift by God coming on you, not at all. The common Christian faith is that salvation is something to be received, a gift. What is not much talked about or glorified, is that it looks like a sacrifice, as Paul tells. Here is an ourverture and short-cut to this message:

Introduced. The Counselor . . . if I go, I will send him to you. [John 16:7]

When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth . . . [John 16:13]

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses . . ." [Acts 1:8]

Spirituals. Whey were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. [Acts 2:1-4]

Some . . . made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine. " [Acts 2:13]

Coming upon - 1. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, and people were baptized, both men and women . . . When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria thus had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. [Acts 8:1-17, passim]

Coming upon - 2. While Peter was still speaking . . ., the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. . . .

Then Peter said, ". . . They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." [Acts 10:44-46-47]

Sacrifice, holy and pleasing

In Christianity, what is called salvation is being put right with the Innermost (Jehovah), as shown by a spirit taking possession of you, and in some cases it leading to be murdered, like millions of martyrs in the early Church.

The Passover lamb and his believers. The Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. [Luke 22:7] — Christ Jesus . . . God presented him as a sacrifice. [Rom 3:24-25] — Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. [1 Cor 5:7]

Jesus: "If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. [John 15:20; cf. John 16:2]

Paul exhorts, "I urge you, brothers, . . . offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing . . . this is your spiritual act of worship. [Rom 12:1]

Set Apart

Set apart people. The body of the Christian follower is to be a sacrifice, the apostle says above, obviously ignoring the higher teachings of surpassing Jesus [John 14:12], and pray for and have faith in a better fare! "Everything is possible for him who believes." [Mark 9:23] "All things are possible with God." [Mark 10:27] "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, "Move from here to there" and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. " [Matthew 17:21] "If you have faith and do not doubt, . . . you [can do] what was done to the fig tree [curse it dead]" [Matthew 21:21] - and so on, on and on.

It is generally accepted that Christians are also to be special people, set apart. When most of the population is Christian, being set apart to one's loss means a loss . . . a loss may be a sacrifice.

Much more seriously, people with many unrealised, undermining, and varying beliefs find it hard to be cogent and rational: it is no small wonder they are "special". There is a parallell to people who were set apart to Jehovah as embodied, "consecrated sacrifices".

"If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of separation to the Lord as a Nazirite, he must abstain from fermented drink. He must not eat grapes or raisins, not even the seeds or skins. No razor may be used on his head. He must be holy; he must let the hair of his head grow long. Throughout the period of his separation he is consecrated to the Lord.

When the period of his separation is over [and] the Nazirite has shaved off the hair of his dedication, the Nazirite may drink wine [again]. [Numbers 6:2-21, passim]

Samson, the Nazirite born of a sterile woman

A certain man had a wife who was sterile and remained childless. The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, "You are sterile and childless. Now do not eat anything unclean, because you will conceive and give birth to a son. No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth."

Then the woman went to her husband and told him, "A man of God said to me, "You will conceive and give birth to a son. The boy will be a Nazirite of God from birth till the day of his death.'"

The man prayed, "Lord, let the man of God you sent to us come again."

The angel of God came again to the woman while she was out in the field; but her husband was not with her. The woman hurried to tell her husband, "He is here! The man who appeared to me the other day!"

Her husband got up, followed his wife, and asked the other, "What is to be the rule for the boy's life and work?"

The angel answered, "She must not eat anything unclean."

The husband asked, "What is your name?"

The other answered, "Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding."

Then Manoah sacrificed a young goat on a rock to the Lord. And as the flame blazed up from the altar, the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame.

The husband realized that it was an angel. "We are doomed to die!" he said to his wife. "We have seen God!"

But his wife gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. [Judg 13:2-24, passim]

Samuel the Judge was a Nazirite

Hannah in Ramah wept much and bitterly because she was childless, and promised God that if he would give her one she would "give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head."

Then her husband lay with her, and in the course of time she got a son. She named him Samuel. After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull. When they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to the priest Eli, saying, "Now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord." The boy, wearing a linen ephod, ministered under Eli, the priest with wicked and disobedient sons.

One night the Lord called Samuel. Samuel finally got the words right, and answered, "Here I am. Speak, for your servant is listening."

And the Lord said such things to Samuel that he was afraid to pass it on to Eli the priest - but he did, and the Lord was with Samuel as he grew up. [1 Samuel 1:11-3:19, abridged]

Nazirites, Rastafari, and you

The Nazirite Samson got very strong and violent through the Spirit and killed many. Samuel, on the other hand, had the gift of prophesy.

In the Hebrew Bible, a nazirite refers to one who took a vow described in Numbers 6:1-21 - man or woman. He can groom his hair with his hand or scratch his head and needn’t be concerned if some hair falls out. However a nazirite cannot comb his hair.

The term comes from the Hebrew word nazir, which means "consecrated" or "separated". The nazirite is described as being "holy unto the LORD" (Numbers 6:8), yet at the same time must bring a sin offering. This has led to that some view the Nazirite as an ideal, and others view him as a sinner. The parallels to the "good Christian" are astounding.

A Jewish man or woman can become a nazirite by saying "me too" as a nazirite passes by. If he does not specify, the vow is for 30 days. The father has the ability to annul the nazirite vow of his young daughter, and a husband has the ability to annul a vow by his wife, when they first hear about it (Numbers 30). Further, if a nazirite fails in fulfilling the obligations involved, all or part of the person's time as a nazirite may need to be repeated, and the person may also have to bring sacrifices.

Now, rabbis say that the nazirite may drink alcoholic beverages that are not derived from grapes, but the non-rabbinical interpretation is that a Nazirite is forbidden to consume any alcohol, and vinegar from such alcohol, regardless of its source.

The nazirite is called "holy unto the Lord" (Numbers 6:8), but at the same time must bring a sin-offering (Numbers 6:11) and his sins are explicitly referred to ("and make atonement for that which he sinned"). Maimonides calls a nazirite a sinner, and points out that a nazirite can be evil or righteous depending on the circumstances. Many later opinions seek to make out that a nazirite is both good and bad.

The practice of a nazirite vow is part of the ambiguity of the Greek term "Nazarene" in the New Testament. Of John the Baptist, who baptised Jesus, it was told that he "shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb", in other words, a nazirite from birth. [Luke 1:13-15)

Early Jewish Christians occasionally took the temporary nazirite vow, and the tradition of the nazirite vow has influenced the Rastafari Movement too, inspired by the text of Leviticus 21:5 "They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard nor make any cuttings in their flesh." The visible sign of this vow is the Rastafarian's dreadlocks. Some Rastafari have concluded that Samson had dreadlocks. Others interpret Samson's "locks" to have been simple braids.

[Wikipedia, s.v. "Nazirite"]

Away from Gospel Teachings

In the light of the Bible and creeds that have grown up around it, how many Christs do we need to get saved? That may depend on what content we put into the term.

The Americanised Hindu guru Paramahansa Yogananda tells that Jesus is in "constant communion" with a secretive guru in the Himalayas and "have planned the spiritual technique of salvation for this age". But that is not the New Testament message of salvation as a direct gift by God coming on you at all.

Jesus in the gospels says many things that cannot be reconciled with various Yogananda claims. He says he came for Jews only [Matthew 13;24]; that salvation is only from the Jews [Matthew 10:5; John 4:22]; and warns explicitly against false Christs [Matthew 24:24]; and against having other masters than himself [Matthew 23:8]. Yogananda all the same presents four of the SRF gurus as christs, with Jesus as one of the gurus, and claims perfect harmony with the teachings of Jesus.

More embassing to the guru's cult is that salvation in Christianity is a gift, not a set of breathing techniques to train in. To be put right with Christianity's God comes from that God's acceptance.

Some signs of having that Spirit is the ability to greater works than Jesus [John 14:12], such as talking mountains into the sea. Seeing that is believing that. Allow for a little demonstration . . . [Matthew 21:21]

Select Yogananda words are propagated by Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF), a California-headquartered society. It is a a sect or cult in the opinion of some who have "been there, done that". There are also widely accepted cult criteria that appear to apply well.

❖ Christianity propagated by Hindu swamis - heh, heh, heh!

Yogananda's extra long-lived Babaji Christ: Questions and suggested answers

Can yogis live very long?

There are many tales of such feats, and not just about Babaji, one of the Yogi-Christs of India, according to Yogananda. Yogananda recounts some stories in his Autobiography. [More]

Is Yogananda information about Babaji confirmed in any way that counts by Yogananda-independent others?

Well, others of his guru dynasty have described Babaji and recount encounters with him. They include Lahiri Baba, Yukteswar, Marshall Govindam [A], and the head of the Sanskrit Classics in San Diego, to name some of them. [More]

Just how old is Babaji?

There are different stories of how old Babaji is. And they are "only stories"; that is, very hard evidence is lacking, as far as I know. [More]

Is it possible to learn essential kriya without stooping to swear unconditional loyalty and devotion to six unmet gurus (the SRF Kriya Pledge)?

In Self-Realization Fellowship you have to swear solemnly for it, oddly contrary to commands of Jesus to his followers not to swear at all. [More].

But you don't have to stoop by guru pledges to learn kriya. You can learn it in freedom. Kriya is public today. Satyananda's line teaches kriya [Cy; Kta].

Does Self-Realization Fellowship teach proper methods in acceptable ways?

Some say yes, some say no, and others hardly, and so on. Answers depend on who you ask and how well informed they are. SRF imposes a "Golgotha pledge" on kriya-greedy ones, and does break with the kriya tradition's injunctions on how to spread it. And Yogananda did simplify methods and peel of others that are said to be essential for success in kriya in the tradition he comes from. Satyeswarananda exposes sides to this here: [◦More]. The Yogananda biography tells of his changes of kriya too. [Psy 109-10]

Is it possible to learn kriya without submitting to gurus that are to be classified as demoniac according to the Bhagavad Gita's chapter 16, verses 7-10?

In SRF and Yogananda's tradition that seems impossible, for four of the kriya gurus of that line teach the world is a swindle, an illusion, (but they not, nor their teachings). However, in Satyananda's kriya tradition you learn kriya in freedom.

How much do the New Testament sayings of Jesus weigh?

You are to decide for yourself. If you don't want to be a "sick sheep", take into account that almost all the words of Jesus pertain to Jewish followers of his, and that Christianity abandoned his deal in Acts 15 (and 21:25). And it is better to go for health than needing Jesus, says Jesus [Mark 2:17; Matthew 9:13].

What is a proper attitude to strange tidings of salvation as a gift only from Jews or as a set of self-propelling methods from outside the flock of Jews and so on?

It is not to discard a thing for lack of evidence, but to keep assertions in suspense (hold them at bay) in such a case, maybe mentally labelled as "speculation" or "hearsay" too. However, it is fit to judge the degree of probabilities in some ways and sift the evidence. Tales from many independent witnesses carry more weight than tales from one guru. Yet, tales form anecdotal evidence, and carry little weight as proof in science. Always consider the evidence. If it is lacking, ask for it. In science it is the one who claims a thing who is to carry the burden of proving it - of supplying good proof.

❖ A cult can be counted a sucess hit for gurus behind it.

Guru Christs of Scientific Principles?

The suggestions above are to help against being taken in or fall under the sway of "Twin fools; the one believes everything, the other nothing." Rational enquiry should be welcomed as proper by a guru and his disciples who allegedly stand for science. And if a topic seems uninteresting at first, maybe it will not be for long. Interest depends in part on our inner sides, I think.

A sample from the SRF Aims and Ideals:

• To disseminate among the nations a knowledge of definite scientific techniques for attaining direct personal experience of God. [NOTE 1]
• To reveal the complete harmony and basic oneness of original Christianity as taught by Jesus Christ and original Yoga as taught by Bhagavan Krishna . . . [NOTE 2]
• To point out the one divine highway to which all paths of true religious beliefs eventually lead: the highway of daily, scientific, devotional meditation on God. . . . [NOTE 3]
• To unite science and religion through realization of the unity of their underlying principles. [Link]

The notes above

1. SCIENTIFIC AND SO-CALLED SCIENTIFIC. In the cult SRF, "Scientific techniques" is aligned to "scientific, devotional meditation", and "realise science's underlying principles" in following aims and ideals. The slogans are there, and that is suggestedy the larger part of what 'scientific meditation' stands for in SRF circles. 'Science' and 'scientific' serve as catchwords, and represent a breathing regimen that is to be practiced regularly. Good results, if any are noticed at first, depend on how meticulously correct each breathing round is performed. So it is not how many kriyas that count the most; it is how many correctly done kriya rounds. In the kriya yoga tradition from Babaji through Lahiri Mahasaya, it is, further, "sincere" practice that is spoken for, and not devoted practice. The devotionalist Yogananda seems to have introduced the idea of "devoted" into the kriya system, after his so-called mathematics was seen to be more or less a joke. So when people came to him and said they had done a million kriya rounds without getting Cosmic Consciousness as he had said such practitioners would, by force of the "mathematics", he added "devotion" as a necessary ingredient too, and so on.
   
   
2. SRF JESUSISM. SRF thereby reveals it stands for a variant of "Jesusism". It has been pointed out that Christianity of today is not the religion that Jesus preached. The term "Jesusism" was coined by the late 1800s, from "Jesus" (Jesus of Nazareth) + "-ism," and stands for the "Christianity of the Gospels" and a way of life that can be attributed directly to the teachings of Jesus. In Jesusism people personally commit to or adhere to the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, although there is gospel evidence that he had come for Jews only. Further, Jesusism is distinguished from and often opposed to the writings attributed to the apostle Paul and from modern Church doctrine and practice [Wikipedia, s.v. "Jesusism"].
   
   
3. HIGHWAY MARKETING AND HSR. The highway is in part a token of American life, and one that has swollen and is becoming largely "unthrifty," so the hype may be "the high-speed rail of meditation" soon enough . . . Due to rising oil prices, pressing environmental concerns or needs, and rising traffic congestions on the roads it had had better be massively replaced by well designed and thought-out high-speed rail, HSR, which today is more environmentally friendly than air or road travel and has other huge and potential benefits. The fast trains may compete with planes on stretches between large cities for journeys of 2 to 3 hours. There are many HSR networks in the world by now. However, the United States lag seriously behind in the development. [Wikipedia, s.v. "High-speed train"]

SRF spreads Yogananda's strange ideas through books and other means. But they also tidy up some of his statements, even some of the aims and ideals for the movement. See for yourself:

• The 11 current SRF's Aims and Ideals with comments
• The SRF Church deed of 1935 with 18 points to teach under par. 2d. (PDF)
• A former series of 15 aims and ideals commented on lightly

Kill-joy stand: Human life is not for physical pleasure. Things change. The former SRF aims and ideals specify that human life is not for physical pleasure, for example. How dreary! Yogananda was also rallying against much sex among intimidated followers.

A rather pressing question is whether Yogananda and SRF present their case on any subject in order, with integrity, clarity, simplicity, brevity, interest, and with no trace of pomposity, as Napley writes [in Scw 35]. Robert Barrass further says that explanation, completeness, impartiality, order, accuracy, objectivity and simplicity are basic requirements in scientific writing, and that considerate authors can be marked by appropriateness, consistency, control, interest, persuasiveness, precision, sincerity, and unity [Scw 35].

Barrass also tells us to study published work by others, for "detecting faults in the work of others should help you to improve your own [Scw 35]." As a result we may revise our own work and arrive at fewer words, and, when necessary, provide observations and reminders that assist the relevance of the message. Bar charts and similar figures have not been used on this page, but they can often serve clarity of presentation.

❖ One should know beforehand that SRF is a movement with room for many Christs among gurus and members, but without so much room for sex among members, on Yogananda's word.

Science of Yogi Christs

Self-Realization Fellowship holds many aims and ideals. Earlier they held different ones, approved by Yogananda, aims and ideals that are now discarded by SRF. That is what the guru's "no-flaws guidelines" amount to in actual SRF practice. [Link]

By following the link (or revert to the list near the top of this page) you see SRF speaks of "scientific" and "science", those dear words. They have taken to using bait terms that are thought well of. However, "science" can mean this, it can mean that, but is tied in with research, its procedures and equipment for finding out things by means of hypotheses and provings/falsifications. One of the first things one learns to consider is called "find alternative proposals (alternative hypotheses)". There are many good primers on how to do research. There are many sorts of how to do it these days, both qualitative methods, quantitative methods and various crossings or blends among them [cf. Scw and Wd].

SRF is not significantly marked by "scientific" in its cultish activities. To the contrary. The society has a belief-system which includes a form of Jesusism as understood and interpreted by the founder guru so that it conforms to Hinduism. You are supposed to believe that guy. Scientific activity, on the other hand, leaves you free to doubt things very well, by alternative hypotheses and stardard methods of investigation, and so on.

Doubting was not so bad for the disciple Thomas either. Fit and fine basic research may be understood as doubt or questioning put into a system of hypotheses and means to test them out somehow, more or less, within bounds. A mature scientist may seem "cold-blooded" and not likely to be publicly fond of faith in his specialist domain. One of his desires or needs is more clarity through discerning underlying factors, perhaps.

❖ There are many cults around in the United States and elsewhere. SRF is not the only one.

Babaji on pangs and yogic science in return

Babaji sent his emissary for the sake of great men of science in the West, the Autobiography of Yogananda says. The one that speaks first is Yukteswar:

"I have been thinking of the scientific men of the West, greater by far in intelligence than most people congregated here, living in distant Europe and America . . . They are the men who could benefit greatly by meetings with India's masters. But . . . many Westerners are wedded to rank materialism. Others, famous in science and philosophy, do not recognise the essential unity in religion."

"I saw that you are interested in the West, as well as the East." Babaji's face beamed with approval. "I felt the pangs of your heart, broad enough for all men . . .

India has much to learn from the West in material development; in return, India can teach . . . yogic science.

You, Swamiji, have a part to play . . . I shall send you a disciple whom you can train for yoga dissemination in the West. The vibrations there of many spiritually seeking souls come flood-like to me. I perceive potential saints in America and Europe, waiting to be awakened. [. . .].

Please undertake another task, . . . Will you not write a short book . . .?"

"Maharaj [great raja, great king, an appellative, or title given]," I answered . . . "Shall I be able . . .?"

"Babaji laughed softly. "My son, why do you doubt?" he said reassuringly. "Indeed, Whose work is all this, and Who is the Doer of all actions? Whatever the Lord has made me say is bound to materialise as truth." [Link]

Yogananda formed "aims and ideals" after being sent to the West to spread kriya yoga. Yogananda seeks to unify or blend religion and science though a medley of words on the slogan level., but without catering to staunch, respectable research on kriya yoga and other meditation methods he introduced.

In yoga it is still possible to study tenets and practice teachings as something like working hypotheses. This holds true for both Buddhist and Hindu yoga. What is more, regardless of age, sex, faith, or race you can get the same results by adapting this wonderful life-teaching - radiant health, increased energy and stamina, a more fit body, relaxation, improved concentration and peace of mind, says James Hewitt in his Teach Yourself Yoga [Lsy 23]. It boils down to: Faith and dogmatism are neither essential nor needed for great success in yoga and meditation; not even working-hypotheses are, in fact. The cream of the teachings is to practice carefully according to one's capacity, and observe what changes may occur, and not to prefer to give up any beneficial or delicate practice.

So far as "original Christianity" is concerned, we should give the guru the benefit of some doubt or interpretation - but more important, to give ourselves the benefits of knowing what he actually stands for, so as to "When in doubt, win the trick," as Edmund Hoyle has it. Thus, make consistent efforts to remain free within to tackle things in your life well, be they called kriya, ujjayi, and so on, to your own advantage too.

❖ There are some things India should not learn from the West, such as corporate greed that often rises higher than national laws - corporate greed and psychopathology, if we believe Canadian researchers. The psychopathology of large, international corporations consolidates abuses and dwarfs and limits the earth's resources [Wikipedia, s.v. "The Corporation"].

Intermingled Teachings

Believing as little as you can, tends to keep and promote soundness of mind if you learn to inspect fairly too. Beliefs consist of conform opinions. Some of them may work for good in a life, just as religious memberships may too.

A belief comes from what you have heard or read and accepted as fact, but experience is something you have actually perceived. - Yogananda

Yogananda made his way into the hearts and minds of many hundred thousand Westerners. The following contains main sides to what he tells of the secretive Himalayan yogi that is called Babaji, "honoured father":

Babaji flies from place to place to play?

Babaji to Yogananda, according to Yogananda: "I am Babaji . . . Go to America. Fear not . . . spread the message of Kriya Yoga" [Pa 355]. -- However, Yogananda's biographer throws doubt on whether the meeting where this is allegedly said, took place. Based on Yogananda's writings in 1937, the biographer says, "The above article written by Swamiji [Yogananda] in his institution’s primary journal and his speech on the 1st of January 1937 shows that at least up until that time he had not seen Babaji Maharaj directly . . . Yoganandaji was a man who lived in the world of imagination and spiritual feelings. He saw some things directly and some things with the eyes of his feelings. Towards the end [when he also wrote his autobiography], he often did not perceive a difference between the two. In any case, in the perspective of a historical biographer, there is no believable evidence that the propagated picture of Babaji Maharaj was drawn from having seen the Divine Master directly." [Psy 99]

"Every man may find a way through Kriya Yoga . . . to feel spiritual reverence for all phenomena, whether mystical or of everyday occurrence." [Ha 338].

"Babaji is ever in communion with [Jesus] Christ; together they send out vibrations . . . and have planned the spiritual technique of salvation for this age. . . . Babaji realises the necessity of spreading the self-liberations of yoga" [Pa 307] ◊

"[The one we call Babaji] moves . . . from place to place in the mountains . . . he says "Dera danda uthao." . . . the signal for moving . . . instantaneously to another place." [The method is called astral travel.] [Pa 308].

"Babaji and Lahiri were omniscient . . . play a part in the human drama." [Pa 345]

"Babaji said," I am intending to shed my form (. . .) What's the difference?"

His sister: "Please do not ever relinquish your form."

Babaji: "I shall never leave my body." [He changed his mind. If you do that in a lot of minor matters it hardly makes a difference. But in matters of life and death it does.] [Pa 312]

Yogananda was asked by someone: "Why do you place special emphasis on Christianity?" "It's the wish of Babaji that I do so . . . He asked me to interpret the Christian Bible and the Hindu Bible [Bhagavad Gita], to point out the basic unity of the Christian and the Vedic scriptures. He sent me to the West to fulfil that mission." [Say 19].

Few were qualified to learn kriya earlier. Now it is free

"Yoga has been known in India for untold millenniums." [Pa 337]

Babaji: "Bestow the Kriya key only on qualified chelas [close disciples]. He who vows to sacrifice all".

Lahiri to him: "Angelic master . . . increase that benefit by relaxing the strict requirements . . . Permit me to communicate Kriya to all sincere seekers . . . tortured men".

"Be it so." [Pa 323]

"Behold a circling mass of mystical light travelling . . . the flaming whirlpool" [Pa 311]

"Babaji consented . . . to assume life-after-life responsibility for the spiritual welfare of . . . Kriya Yogis . . . initiated by . . . Kriya teachers [Pa 323n] In the 12th edition the note is expanded: "At first Babaji gave permission to Lahiri Mahasaya, only, to teach Kriya Yoga to others. The Yogavatar then asked that a few of his disciples also be empowered to teach Kriya. Babaji consented, and decreed that the teaching of Kriya be restricted, in the future, to those who were advanced on the Kriya path and upon whom authority had been conferred by Lahiri Mahasaya or by the channels established by the Yogavatar's authorized disciples. Babaji compassionately promised to assume life-after-life responsibility for the spiritual welfare of all faithful and loyal Kriya Yogis who have been initiated by duly authorized Kriya teachers. Self-Realization Fellowship and Yogoda Satsanga Society of India Kriya Yoga initiates are strictly required to sign a pledge that they will not reveal the Kriya technique to others. In this way the simple but exact Kriya technique is protected from changes and distortions by unauthorized teachers, and remains in its original, uncorrupted form. Although the ancient restrictions of asceticism and renunciation were waived by Babaji in order that the masses might benefit from Kriya Yoga, he nevertheless required of Lahiri Mahasaya and all descendants of his spiritual line (the SRF-YSS line of Gurus) that they impose on any who sought initiation a period of preliminary spiritual training, by way of preparation for Kriya Yoga practice. The practice of a highly advanced technique such as Kriya is incompatible with a desultory spiritual life. Kriya Yoga is more than a meditation technique; it is also a way of life, and requires acceptance by the initiate of certain spiritual disciplines and injunctions. Self-Realization Fellowship and Yogoda Satsanga Society of India have faithfully carried out these instructions handed down through Babaji, Lahiri Mahasaya, Sri Yukteswar, and Paramahansa Yogananda. The Hong-Sau and Aum techniques, taught in the SRF-YSS Lessons and by authorized SRF-YSS representatives as a preliminary to Kriya Yoga, are an integral part of the Kriya Yoga path. These techniques are highly effective in raising the consciousness to Self-realization, and in liberating the soul from bondage." [Ha 313-14n]

COMMENT. (1) The SRF kriya pledge violates Human Rights Laws. (2) Yogananda changed kriya, leaving out essential practices. His biographer Dasgupta is the source of the following:

In order to spread Kriya Yoga, Paramhansa Yogananda adopted several variations to the original methods, upon seeing the average Westerner's limitations in physical capacity . . . regarding the carrying out of yogic practices . . . Yogananda adopted a few different methods which no doubt produce results; however, it is not possible through these new methods to fully attain that which is spoken of in the scriptures in terms of Kriya Yoga . . .

[Yogananda supplied other methods than kriya. One of them is "Hansa" [Hong-saw] - a form of mantra meditation where one keeps thinking something like "hong" as the breath goes in, and something close to "saw" as it goes out of its own accord]. . . . One is only fit to practice the higher Kriyas after one accomplishes Khechari Mudra [which is raising the tongue to the soft palate - however, Yogananda dispensed with the practice, and so does Sunburst]. This absolutely essential technique is also not very easy to attain. For this reason, Yogananda gave instructions for higher Kriyas even without Khechari . . . this is not proper . . . Without Khechari, neither "Thokar" Kriya nor "Omkar" Kriya can be performed . . .

Yoganandaji has completely mixed the methods that are easier for Americans to practice and understand with the original and pure methods and techniques. And the possibility of practicing wrongly or being misdirected has remained. [Psy 109-110, passim].

(3) The methods mentioned at the rear of the long SRF footnote, are corollaries, and can be learnt elsewhere, they too, like kriya breathing itself. It is not secret any longer; it is taught freely in Sivananda's tradition. [Cy; Kta. See a kriya method]

The Yogi-Christ Babaji to the master of Yogananda: "You . . . have a part to play . . . Some years hence I shall send you a disciple whom you can train for yoga dissemination in the West . . . I perceive potential saints in . . . Europe" [Pa 343, 345] ◊

Yogi-Christ Babaji to the master of Yogananda: "Will you not write a short book on the underlying harmony between the Christian and Hindu scriptures? Their basic unity is not obscured . . . show by parallel references . . . inspired sons of God have spoken the same truths (. . .) why do you doubt?" [Pa 344, 345]

COMMENT. The underlying harmony between two different religions with different textual bodies, is that they are both religions of man, and as such reflect man. Yukteswar's book is analysed here: [Link]

The scenario called "the cosmos is the dream" is the thing to dissolve - yet all too few Indians say it that way

Lahiri's stately companion in the Himalayas: "(Babaji) effortlessly dematerialises the illusion of a cosmic-dream universe." [Think of that.] [Ha 319].

This survey also implies: (a) "A dreamt universe is the illusion to get rid of while we live here in this world." (b) "Fancied humbug can be dissolved without effort, as it does not quite exist". (c) "The illusion of a dream-universe is the central thing to dissolve to get stately again, says the master." (d) Doing things with less and less effort signals being on the right track." "And so on."

We are supposed to learn something from a table-essay, but . . . [16.7-10, passim]

Gist

1. Babaji flies from place to place to play salvation? (Cf. the lila concept)
2. How few they were who qualified for kriya earlier.
3. The scenario called "the cosmos is the dream" is not as good as "Illusion itself is illusory". [Tb 17]

Some say Babaji flew about and did not himself teach kriya to the masses of the Dream before the 1800s either. At least I have not heard of many.

On Being "Very Original"

The Grandeur of Going Forth as Very Original and Inventive

The Hindu swami-monk and emissary Yogananda claimed he stood for "original Christianity as taught by Jesus Christ" [Pa 499], even contrary to what Jesus said - and not in consonance with the first Christianity of the Holy Spirit and apostles, or New Testament letters, or the early Gospel of Thomas, for that matter.

One crucial question is: Does the gospel's Jesus teach anything like Yogananda in things that matter, or anything that carries or conveys similar word-grandeur?

First, in the Old Testament, which Jesus said was to be valid a long time [Matthew 5:18], God called himself "I am what I am" or "I am what I will be" [Exodus 3:14]. That is to be original in a sense too." Stagnation is not the problem.

In John 14:11-12 Jesus says any follower may do greater works than him.

Original Christianity means surpassing Jesus "as taught by Jesus Christ". If so in your case, congratulations.

❖ To be phrase-independent can show yoga grandeur.

What about Jesus the Plot-Dummy?

There is one more thing: A "Jesus Christ" may have been conjured up as a dummy in the Himalayas or the backyard of a guru in India. Yogananda could have referred to this dummy, not wholly unlike those who ask, "Where is my Jesus?" and mean Jesus pants with their "Follow me" on the hind side.

Is it reasonable and likely that Yogananda referred to the yogi's dummy, drummed up by voodoo or things like that? In the universe of the guru, know that what looks reasonable often is out of the question. But likely it is not. It seems that Yogananda believed Jesus was on his side after having a vision of him. But to what degree is a vision a proof?

Yogis learn to induce visions - can see what they want. Patanjali's Yoga Sutras describes such feats [ch. 3:32, 36, 37]. James Hewitt [Lsy, ch 10] elaborates on ch. 3:30, telling that the powers referred to in that sutra ("thought-thread") are the eight majestic ones. They include having all one wants fulfilled; controlling all nature; and having the ability to create. Yukteswar, the guru of Yogananda, lists them in The Holy Science [Hos 95]

If Yogananda or Babaji refer to a backyard dummy called Jesus Christ of the Bible, it should be used to confuse and mislead many7 Americans. [Psy 9, 112 etc].

❖ For the lack of hard evidence, there is reason to consider both alternatives and probabilities and grade them too. Is there a Jesus-dummy somewhere in the Himalayas, and how likely is it? For the lack of good clues, keep your options open. That is a basic piece of advice.

In the Light of Bible Evidence

There was no "original Christianity as taught by Jesus Christ". Jesusism of the old days was no Christianity for the simple reason that Christianity was not born at that time. Jesus had many followers, but Christians were not among them. Christianity came into play after the death of Jesus: first by the Holy Spirit falling on the remaining twelve apostles, and second by their joint Apostolic Decree, which allowed the apostles to venture out into the world outside that of Jews. [Cf. Acts 15 and Wikipedia, s.v. "Apostolic Decree"] So even though SRF speaks about "original Christianity of Jesus Christ", a few modifications are surely needed. What is more, Jesus said that salvation comes only from Jews, that he was for Jews only, he warned ahead of time against false Christs and having more masters than himself. There is no good reason to deny or distort scripture - is there? [Link]

In evolved Christianity, already in Acts 15 (and 21:25) the idea of Jesus of saving Jews only, was abandoned. As good as everything the self-proclaimed "son of God" had taught for Jews only, was abandoned. What was left was no to blood food such as Brat and Wurst and black pudding - to rub it in - and three more no's within traditional Christianity and its variants. That was all that was left as requirements for non-Jewish Christians, the Bible says. [More]

❖ In some countries, Brat and Wurst and blood pudding and blood sausage are considered yummy Christmas food. Cf. Acts 15:27-29.

Babaji above or before Jesus - a little faith miracle or flying false colours?

In SRF Mahavatar Babaji and not Jesus is said to be the Supreme Guru in the Indian line of master who assume responsibility for the spiritual welfare of all members . . . who faithfully practice Kriya Yoga [Pa 501].

Assume: Undertake, usurp, pretend to have, suppose, to take over as one's own. To think or accept that something is true but without having proof of it. (Some dictionary definitions)

There is quite an interesting puzzle embedded in this line of thinking. Some think that "assume responsibility" means "take responsibility", but how can that be? After all three of the line of Indian gurus teach the world is illusory. Accordingly, whatevery reponsibility they seem to take is illusory - it is something assumed! Further, three of them teach the Lord is the Sole Doer - which spells something like "The Lord is the Sole Doer of illusory responsibility". "The Lord . . . does everything," decrees God through Yogananda, [Self-Realization Magazine, Spring 1972, p. 20], etc. Through others, however, God does many mistakes and says an awful lot of wrong things . . . without getting all of them canonised as "without flaw".

Why should God, that Yogananda talks of as the Sole Doer in Man's Eternal Quest [Ak], be the one assuming the final responsibility for a devout Christian through Babaji?

It seems to be time to wake up: 'assume' in the Yogananda quote does not have to be clear-cut at all. Compare another statement Babaji makes in the Autobiography of a Yogi: "The divine realm extends to the earthly, but the latter [is] illusory" [Autobiography of a Yogi, ch. 34. Wishful thinking is too easily mobilised in cult waters at any rate.

❖ Surely Yogananda should have been more precise in this. And remember to let the slurring guys bear a just share of the responsibility for problems they give rise to.

Communion: What It Means

Yogananda writes in his autobiography:

The Mahavatar [Great avatar, i.e., Babaji] is in constant communion with Christ; together they send out vibrations of redemption, and have planned the spiritual technique of salvation for this age. The work of these two fully-illumined masters—one with the body, and one without it—is to inspire the nations to forsake [such as] sectarianism.

The great guru has never openly appeared in any century . . . Babaji works in a humble obscurity. . . .

[Babaji] undertake[s] work which is concerned more with the slow evolutionary progress of man during the centuries than with any one outstanding event of history. Such masters always veil themselves from the gross public gaze, and have the power to become invisible at will. [Autobiography of a Yogi, Chap. 33]

❖

Comment

Yogananda uses the term 'constant communion': The word 'communion' stems from Latin and signals something like 'mutual participation'. But the word has many meanings:

1. Communion is 'an act of sharing'.
2. If capitalized it has to do with a Christian sacrament (holy ritual), but Yogananda does not capitalize the word.
3. Communion means 'intimate fellowship'.

We will take a look at the first and third meanings here. Both Yogananda and Babaji teach the universe is unreal - a soap opera? Krishna, who is also drawn in as one of the SRF gurus, teaches that those who teach the world is ureal, are demoniacs. "bag16.html">Bhagavad Gita, chapter 16, verses 6-12.

You could profit from reflecting on:

• What took Jesus so long to find a suitable partner outside the flock of followers that were allowed to do greater works than himself (John 14:12)?
• And why did Babaji wait till the 1800s before kriya yoga was launched into wider circles? Think of the lost opportunities for many, many centuries that went before it, in the light of "Lahiri initated 5000, Yogananda a 100 000." What a rather exponential change the world appeared to havemissed. If you say "The time was not ripe" earlier, prove it (Compare John 14:12).
• Note that Jesus gave the secrets of the kingdom to his disciples, and they were to hand it over for nothing, he says. You have to swear an oath to learn kriya pranayama through SRF. It seems wrong in the light of "for nothing" and "Do not swear" of Jesus, but there is more:
• Among the first followers and later Christians, being saved is to be put right with God, to have the Spirit of God imparted. That is what Christianity tells it is about. There is no mention of some extraneous technique needed. However, there is a call to "watch and pray" and "lift up the Son of Man" here and there in the gospels. Things depend on what is put into them. Expect that a yogi puts yoga teachings into them.
• There is also the view - from words of Jesus - that salvation comes only from the Jews, and there are no other masters or Christs one should seek salvation from. The scriptural facts seem to be that Jesus never said that delicate, yogic pranayama was needed; but that being saved is a gift of heaven. That gift is The Thing in Christianity, even its sine qua non (without which, naught, i.e. what is indispensable). [Mark 14:36, etc.].

Consider the textual evidence and these points as you will. What took Jesus so long to find out he needed help against his gospel messages?

❖ Humble obscurity may be best for those who teach the world is unreal.

Do Babaji and Jesus Take Slaves to Herd?

Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick . . . I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." [Matthew 9:12-13]

"If you are called to be a Christian follower, then you are sick, maybe covertly so," says Jesus, adding that the healthy and righteous do not need him at all. To be sick as a sheep may be to your loss, especially if a false shepherd comes around, one of those human wolves that Jesus warns against. At any rate, truly healthy ones do not need Jesus, says Jesus. So do healthy ones need a Babaji to co-Christ-lord it over them? Try to preserve some human dignity. How? [Kalama Sutta]

❖ A Christian "sheep" does not feel it needs a co-Christ-Lord in addition to Jesus, but how wrong may it be proven to be?

Slave-takers

Slave-takers are definitely robbers. Jesus says, by the way,

"No one can break into a strong man's house and take away his belongings unless he first ties up the strong man; then he can plunder his house. [Mark 3:27; Matthew 12:29]"

Jesus does not say no to such activity. His alleged father, Yahweh, instituted slavery in Exodus 22, a lot of execution reasons and vicarious sacrifice and scapegoating, and went for genocide of the Amalchites. Let us just say the slave-and-harem-keeping Abraham and his half-sister Sara were lucky to have sex before the Law of Moses.

Slavery was not annulled by Jesus. When he vouched for the Law in Matthew, he said yes to such as "Keep the Canaanite slave forever" [Leviticus 25:46]. Historically, slavery was common among Christians until into the 1800s. [Link] [Titus 2:9-10.]

Now it is called a Human Right to be free rather than taken a slave. That the Christian slave is "made righteous" may be of nothing but appearances.

❖ Vicarious sacrifice, which permeates the Law instituted by Yahweh, is based on letting innocents suffer and die for the sake of scoundrels, who think they are made clean that way. Such is the corrupt concept of righteousness in the Bible. If Babaji is in constant communion with Jesus, he is siding with this, and not up to adequate moral standards, as revealed by Buddha.

Bible Excursion

The alleged mission of Jesus

First Jesus said he came for Jews alone and that his teachings were for Jews exclusively too. But Jews did not want him, no matter what he talked about his sheep who knew his shepherd voice, no matter how he longed for them like a mother hen [Matthew 23;37]! Then, when his unseen father (that he was one with, he said) had planned to sacrifice him to assist the Jews [cf. Leviticus 16], Jesus gave in and accepted to be butchered like a sacrificial lamb for them. The Jewish authorities soon saw to it that he was crucified as a blasphemer, according to the Law they had [Matthew 26;63-7].

You know that you are not popular when people want you crucified and prefer a highwayman instead of you [John 18;39-40]. The Father's Jesus-declared save-the-Jews mission failed. So did major decrees for Jews only, uttered by his own son. His doctrine was reserved for the Jews, he insisted. Adherents of Jesusism who have their foreskins but little Saturday-sabbath rest, may not actually qualify as followers. Let it be their problem. [Matthew 10:5; John 4:22]

Despite the Law what Jesus had vouched for in Matthew 5;17-20, he waived ritual slaughter of animals that the Bible tells God Father had instituted by the Law. And he waived the cramped and rigid sabbath rules that his Father had intended to be a main token of the right belonging. Yahweh had been so strict in such matters that right after he had delivered the Ten Commandments, an old man who had gathered some wood in the wilderness on the sabbath, was executed for it on His command. [Numbers 15:32-36]

Apostles of Jesus and the Holy Spirit soon followed up some waiving when they established Christianity as shown in their Apostolic Decree. They waived the need for Gentile followers to be circumcised [Acts 15], the other of the two key criterions for being God's own - added to the enforced sabbath rest. In the end it stood out that eating blood food was about as bad as adultery - maybe even worse for what we know - and so on. [Acts 15].

Jesus was very, very likely circumcised to be acceptable in the Jewish community, for such was the Law-enforced, ritual custom. The Christ, the image of God or the highest representation, was not found to be quite good enough unmaimed: they cut off his foreskin. He was maimed to be one of them. In the end they got rid of him anyway. A waste of foreskin it was.

❖ The cramped "God's people" found their "sure schemes".

"Fallen is Virgin Israel" - destroyed, and never to rise again

From the earthly ministry of Jesus,

"I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." [Matthew 15;24]

If by that he meant the ten northern tribes of Israel, God had already crushed and killed them all, say Amos and Hosea, and they were never to rise again. It is in the Bible. There were no such lost sheep to save, and to the degree he tried [Matthew 10:6; 15:24], he and his sent disciples were on a wild goose chase.

"I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel." [Hosea 1:4] "I will crush you". [Amos 2:13] "Fallen is Virgin Israel, never to rise again". [Amos 5:2].

"You are destroyed, O Israel, because you are against me, against your helper. (. . .) In my anger I gave you a king". [Hosea 13:9,11]

As for Judah,

• "Judah is falling." [Isaiah 3:8]
• "I will bring an end to the sounds of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroom in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem, for the land will become desolate. [Isaiah 7:34]"
• "I will lay waste the towns of Judah so none can live there." [Jeremiah 9:11]

It does not say when and for how long none Judah will lie waste and desolate and none can live there, though. At any rate, many disregard the Bible's words that there were no lost sheep alive at the time of Jesus. Israel was fallen long ago (in the 700s BCE), destroyed, says Amos and Hosea, even though King David (10th century BCE) bragged, "The Lord, the God of Israel, chose me from my whole family to be king over Israel forever . . . He was pleased to make me king over all Israel. [1 Chronicles 28:4]." Israel did not last, the kingship did not last, and 1 Samuel 8 describes the king as a slave-holding enemy of his people. Jesus as a Jewish king? Ow-oo.

❖ Don't always be deceived by religious and murky propaganda.

❖ Study to detect what is right, instead of just getting jammed.

Tricky salvation

Jesus held for a long time that his mission lay in reserving his efforts and so on for Jews. That failed. Even neighbours of his and his own family wanted him stoned. That failed too. In the end even the Father saw that his plans floundered, and then "the net" of Christianity was cast on Gentiles. That's how terrible things started to happen. Murders, Colosseum, millions killed with a firm faith that the end of the world was near - a faith that was strong and wrong.

Many Christians in the first century believed that Jesus would return during their lifetime. When the converts of Paul in Thessalonica were persecuted by the Roman Empire, they believed the end was upon them. [Matthew 24:15-22; Mark 13:14-20; Luke 21:20-33]

Some who believe literally in the Bible insist that it is futile to predict the date of the end, and some other writers believe that Jesus foretold of signs which would indicate that the end was near. End-times beliefs in Protestant Christianity vary widely.

❖ That the end time that was near was a misconception among early Christians; it stemmed in part from sayings by Jesus.

❖ It is said it was the blood of the martyrs that built the church, not the blood of Jesus.

Will all our ritual prayers go unheard since God refused to answer Jesus in the olive grove and on the cross?

These are important sayings aligned with:

Jesus: "All things are possible with God." [Mark 10;27].

Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." [Mark 9;23]

So can God create a stone that is so heavy that he cannot lift it?

Towards the end in Gethsemane Jesus said in anguish, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death." He fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me." [Matthew 26;36-9 extracts; cf. Luke 22;44; Mark 14;35-41].

No, it was not possible, not with God.

The betrayer Judas had been hand-picked by Jesus and never sent to Madagascar to prevent a future calamity either. Nor did Jesus dispense with him in other ways when there was plenty of time. As he said, "You did not choose me, but I chose you" [John 15;16].

Do not ask why Jesus chose largely illiterate persons and a deceiver to follow him around, with all his foreknowledge and mind-knowledge. Feel free to do much better than Jesus on the word of John 14;12.

❖ It is possible and fit not to ask Jesus of a thing, but to do better. [John 14:12]

Don't freak out: It is better not to be in contact with a crook

"I will ask the Father will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth." [John 14;12-3,15 - Excerpts]. "The Spirit of truth" - it sounds so good. For all that, those who wrote the four gospels did not get it right even when they wrote of core happenings in the gospels and Acts. For example, Judas died in two different ways, it says. [Link]

So, ardent prayers of Jesus were done away with; he was to be slaughtered, sacrificed for the sins of others, even though two goats rightly handled wold be quite enough on a yearly basis [Leviticus 16:21-22; 29-34]. Slaughtering an innocent for the sins of others, be it animal or Jesus, is a dismal, corrupt take, probably. The Norwegian poet Johan Herman Wessel (1742-85) wrote a poem about a much similar event: The people of a town executed an innocent baker instead of the smith who had killed someone. For the town had no smith to spare - and two bakers - and corruption.

❖ Things are finally clearing up, after all.

Scapegoating and victimizing bully - still alive

Normal people know that if a father loves his fairly all right son or is just, or both, he won't have his son slaughtered for the misdoings of others.

We can see that Jesus prayed to the Bible God as "righteous Father" [John 17:25]. But see through the demagoguery: God of the Old Testament (and Bible) instituted not only slavery, but also a hard scapegoat religion with heavy butchering of innocents - prime cattle, other animals and birds were to be killed for sins, neglects and gross offences of guilty guys. This went on year by year by year with no reneging. "Sin, but let animals pay and feed priests!" In psychology, those who succumb to primitive scapegoating may turn into hard mental cases. It could be good to be warned.

The basic scapegoating plot permeates the New Testament too, with some obvious links to mental cannibalism in the sacrament: "eat his body, drink his blood".

God had Jesus slaughtered like a lamb because he was not better than that, regrettably. Today we call brutal ones who kill innocent people to favour criminals, something else than righteous. Besides, there was no real need for man-slaughter: A couple of goats would have averted the calamity that year, if anyone had remembered what is in the Old Testament. Two goats were enough to clean the Hebrews for a year. "You will be clean from all your sins . . . it is a lasting ordinance . . . This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: Atonement [by two goats] is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites," the Lord commanded Moses. [Leviticus 16:21-22; 29-34]. Well, well well!

The idea behind sacrificing Jesus was to help criminals on and up. How many criminal activities today are due to that!

Few Jews converted to Jesus, so don't be taken in. God's plan may seem mysterious, cruel and corrupt, but it failed to the degree God really was out to save Jews by letting them welcome Jesus in the first place. Heart-felt prayers of Jesus were denied, but a scapegoating killing was welcome, nay, planned. The sacrifice of Jesus was not in vain if the secret mission of Jesus was to make the world a better place for criminals - sinners. Compare the proverb, "He that helps the evil hurts the good. [Dp 122]"

You are luckily called to surpass Jesus. The question is how you will do it.

❖ Mental cannibalism helps misbehaving guys mainly.

Back to Babaji

The Bible teaches:

Jesus: "You have only one Master and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth "father," for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. You have one Teacher, the Christ. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled. [Matthew 23;8-12 (Excerpts)

Jesus: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." [Matthew 28;18-20. GUESS WHAT: This passage is a later, added forgery. It goes against Acts in so many ways, and contains concepts that are not found in the gospels otherwise [More].

Jesus: "I am the gate for the sheep. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." [John 10:7-10].

"I am the vine; you are the branches. [John 15:5].

"No one can serve two masters." [Matthew 6:24].

Of course one may serve two masters; many do that. It just depends on how they are. You can serve two parents, for example, so it can be done. Compare John 14;12 and do as you find most fit for yourself. As for branches, they are free to adjust much, but usually depend on having a firm connection with a stem. If not they break off easily.

Goals to attain in a life may build up on top of each other. According to Dr. Abraham Maslow you may go for this and that by stages and thus reach fulfilments in a process called self-actualisation. It can be done; that is a good idea. Much decently had wealth may ease higher attainments as well. There is such a possibility [cf. ].

One should choose one's friends carefully: Jesus came for sinners, not healthy ones, who absolutely do not need him, says Jesus. [Mark 2:17; Matthew 9:13]

Accordingly, healthy individuals should not need Babaji and Yogananda in "constant communion" and league with Jesus, according to Yogananda.

❖ Be as classy as you can and live well.

The Christ, in part a repeat

Yogananda calls Babaji a Christ. Yogananda also defines the term Christ differently than the New Testament. In the New Testament the essential meaning swelled to include subtler sides of the universe, and the Greek translation 'Christ' took the place of the Hebrew 'Messiah'. However, Yogananda makes 'Christ' correspond to something like Tat in one of the Hindu trinities, that of Sat-Tat-Aum, or is it Chit in Sat-Chit-Ananda? It could be both.

Anyway, there is reason to think of Babaji as one who is in constant communion with someone (God) that not only agrees to taking slaves, keeping slaves, letting innocent ones bleed and die for the sins of others, but institutes it by Law. Better stay away! "When in doubt, win the trick," writes Edmund Hoyle. Remember: The healthy don't need a doctor, don't need Jesus. If so, who needs Babaji who is said to be in "constant communion" with him?

Yogananda claims that Babaji sent him spread kriya techniques among affluent North Americans and Westerners, and Yogananda tales and teachings are what we have to rely on. Some run drastically contrary to the teachings of Jesus. And some central ideas of Yogananda run counter to other ideas he speaks of. He contradicts himself on many key issues, such as egohood, selfishness, dictatorship. Further, his outré Bible concepts do not stand inspection. Beware of certain wolves, says Jesus in the New Testament.

❖ Do not let wishful thinking or gruesome panting pledges get the best of you.

❖ "The terrible things that are happening . . . you will understand that they are only a show, a part of God's play." [Yogananda, Ak 264]

❖ To get stupidly religious often means getting duped, unprofitably conform and maybe quite idiotic too. You should not want that.