An Organisation, a Hornet's Nest?

If a hornet you are, be a positive one.

Yogananda meant an organisation was "a hornet's nest" of troubles (Autobiography, Chap. 27) Then he started one. What did he find?

If he meant his devoted followers were wasps, some them might have cited Shakespeare to him: "If I be waspish, best beware my sting. (William Shakespeare in The Taming of the Shrew).

Well, ater raising his own wasps with his hand in the wasp's nest for some time, the guru retired to a desert fringe for the last years of his life. There he sat most of the time, and concluded that every man in America had disappointed him, all but one.

I have done such a horrible act like eating feces by starting an organization."

I see organization is the source of much disharmony. . . .
I feel extremely tired of organization and devoid of enthusiasm. [◦Source: Sanskrit Classics].

The first citation above is still in view on that site, but the second is not (It was in the page's source file, though (April 2017). An intact copy of the last part above is still around. So: "No documentation problem so far."

Strife

Wasps may tell you, "We are good," and things like that. Regardless of the public front, so to speak, about fifty years after Yogananda's passing, SRF was not a peaceful haven all the same. Lola Williamson writes:

SRF is hierarchical in its approach with the Board [of management] essentially controlling the decision-making process. Former disgruntled members of SRF credit this top-down mentality with creating an unhealthy organization. (Williamson 2010:75)

A labyrinth of difficulties beset the organization. Some people could not even sit in the same room with others because there was so much bad feeling. . . . SRF hire[d] outside communication and organizational consultants to offer advice on how to handle the situation. They also suggested that SRF hire counselors and psychologists to deal with the festering psychological problems that some of the monastics seemed to be experiencing. Two new committees . . . were formed to execute the suggestions made by the consultants. This was the beginning of a split among the monks and nuns who resided at the Mother Center. Some viewed the promise of change with exhilaration and hope; and some viewed it with fear. The end result was that a large number of monastics left SRF from about 2000 to 2001. Due to the entrenched resistance to change, the communication consultants were let go, the existing committee members replaced by others content with the status quo, and the psychologists relieved of their duties. It may be that so many people needed to talk to the counselors that the leadership became fearful of losing control. They reverted to the old style of dealing with problems, which, as the SRF catchphrase goes, is to "take it to your altar:' (Williamson 2010:76) [Still more]

"Between 2000 and 2005 more than fifty monks and nuns are reported to have left the organization," writes attorney Jon Parsons (2012:170). More or less enervated ex monastics and others with them contributed to a large discussion board online, the SRF Walrus. It has folded in by now, but a backup from 2006 exists. [SRF Walrus Backup]

The Positive Angling

Learn wisdom by the follies of others (American proverb, Mieder et al 1996:366].

If not, there could be cognitive therapy to try, or something else to go for, as when "A person looking over his life might experience sadness at the wasted opportunities." (Neenan and Dryden 2004:11).

An organisation should ideally nurture winning activity and cater to (some) higher truths without much nonsense. If solid and well founded, it could nurse future leaders. This outlook conforms with the old Vedic student ashrama (life stage) too, and spiritual ashrams headed by a kind, loving gurudev.

Thinking positively

If a human wasp you are, still focus on the positive in every situation. So think positively, stay positive. Believe you can and you're halfway there, and good things and good people may start to be drawn to you. Replace negative thoughts with positive ones. And if you cannot stay positive, just cruise neutral for a while and see opportunities instead of obstacles.

The more you are positive and say, 'I want a good life,' the more you build it. Still, be realistic enough to know that life is a complex matter. And then live each day rather than saying it cannot be done. Don't worry about failures, worry about the chances you miss in an environment that makes good choices easy, natural, and enjoyable.

Yes, surround yourself with positive, warm and genuine people and discipline your mind to see the good in every situation. A wasp than can bring the spirit of laughter into a room is a blessed wasp that will make people feel comfortable. Don't waste your time. Don't overstretch either. Bring out the best in you, and the world could be a much better place.