Quotes of concern from Sri Ram Chandra Mission (Sahaj Marg…The Natural Path) literature being disseminated in our community under the guise of “Spirituality”
Management of Sri Ram Chandra Mission
Chari (Guru)…Plastics engineer and Retired Mill Manager with TTK Group.
Baskhar Roa…(Chief Preceptor)…Retired General Manager, State Bank of Mysore, India
Santosh Khanjee (International Affairs and Web site)…..Businessman, Austin, Texas…
Listed on French Government Report on Cult Activity in France…
Purchased 2 Castles in Europe (France (Peugeot Castle) and Denmark) and numerous commercial buildings and properties around the world
Operates two Web sites SRCM and SMRTI (Sahaj Marg Research and Training Institute) for questionable “value based” school curriculum starting with 5 years old kids…..(they tried to get it in French school near their Castle at Augerans, France)
Linked and collaborates with International Association of Spiritual Psychiatry, Europe (preceptor (German Psychiatrist) published research on 54 “serfs”(disciples), and is a collaborator on the Sri Ram Chandra Mission Web site
Schisms within the group in India (see Yogabhyas.org (was called Ramashram and Institute of Ram Chandra Consciousness and Imperience.org by another group…court cases around the use of names of Web sites and books of the original Ram Chanrdra) in India and Europe (France)
Links: French Government Report on Cults (click on link at this news site)..
http://membres.lycos.fr/tussier/rapportf.htm#page67
French site with news articles on Cults
http://membres.lycos.fr/tussier/rapportf.htm
Great French research site on Cults (English version available)
http://membres.lycos.fr/mielk/
Lineage of Lalaji:
http://www.yogabhyas.org/default.htm
http://laalaajinilayam.googlepages.com/home
Schisms:
http://www.sriramchandra.org/
http://www.imperience.org/
http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/default.html
http://laalaajinilayam.googlepages.com/home
From their book “The efficacy of Sahaj Marg”
The daily prayer…(to the Guru)
O Master!
Thou art the real goal of human life;
We are yet but slaves of wishes putting bar to our advancement.
Thou art the only God and power to bring us up to that stage.
To Whom is the Mission Prayer Addressed and Why
Babuji himself has written that ultimately He (pointing upwards) is the real Master . . . and all the human Masters who come on this world, on this earth, are His representatives. If that is so, then why do we address the prayer, "Oh, Master" and not "Oh, God". Now today I am giving you the answer for that. Because God, it is a living God who is before you in the form of the Master ...this is an embodied flesh-and-blood divinity . . . who can understand our needs; who can understand our temperaments; who can sympathize with us, being human himself; who can accept our failings, perhaps having failed himself in some way . . .
Heart of the Lion (Book)...Page 14
....So I repeat, the Guru is the only friend. In fact, I have said this so often, that in the Sufi philosophy, the Guru is called Friend. "The Friend is coming". Because he is the only fellow who can give his life for you. He is the only fellow, therefore, to whom you must hand over totally, a Power of Attorney....."Do with me as you think I deserve to be done with. Kick me when I have to be kicked. Beat me when I have to be beaten. Curse me when I have to be cursed. But make of me what you think I should be eventually, because only you can do it."
So once more I say this in all humility....if you must have a Master, find a fellow who is capable of, you know, throwing you around, beating you up, cutting you to pieces. Remember Parushurama's father and the stern test that young boy had to make for obedience...."Kill your Mother"...."Yes"...
He pulled out the sword and cut off her head. He said, "I am pleased with you my son. Ask for anything you want." He said, "I want my mother alive." And He said, "So be it." and she got up and walked off. The Guru is the Master, when you say of destiny, it means life and death. He must be the Master of your life as he must be the Master of your death.
Freedom....(responsibility)
From "Salient Features of Sahaj Marg" Series 2 (page 26)....
In examining this idea of freedom, we have been led to the conclusion that what we have thought of as freedom is nothing but a state of surrender to the Master's will. We have not lost freedom in the sense that we have been deprived of it. We have voluntarily, whole-heartedly and devotedly surrendered it to the Master of our Soul. To those who are fortunate enough to arrive at this stage, the Master is no longer a guide for spirituality alone. He has now become the Master of one's life in all it's aspects of existence. He becomes the father, the mother, the son, the teacher, the doctor, in fact, there is no role that He does not play in the abhyasi's life. He has taken total charge of the abhyasi. So we see that only our surrendering to Him can bring about a state where He can take total charge of us!
Analysing this further we find, surprisingly, that a great and unimaginable freedom is now confered on the abhyasi. It is the freedom from freedom itself. It is the freedom of invulnerability. We may even say that it is the freedom of invincibility. We are no longer answerable for our actions. We merely obey. The person who issues the orders, the Master, assumes complete responsibility for anything we do. We are no longer vulnerable to the world. Therefore, a great calm, a great freedom comes to us. Out of our apparent loss of previous freedom- largely illusory as we have seen- we now receive a divine gift, the true freedom of a spiritual state, a real freedom which some saints have called "The Great Liberation".
Maxim 2...(Spiritual cloning)
Now for the form of prayer which may ensure the greatest good to everyone. I may say that one should be brought to the same state of mind which is usually developed at the time of prayer. The feeling that he as a true servant approaches the great Master in the humble capacity of an insignificant beggar must be engrossed upon his mind. He may put up everything before his Master, resigning himself completely to His will. In other words he may assume his real form after surrendering everything to the Master. He should withdraw himself from all sides and turn completely towards Him losing all worldly charms. The remembrance of everything should merge into the remembrance of One -- the Ultimate, resounding all through in every particle of his being. This may be known as complete annihilation of self. If one develops in this state, in my view he should be considered as an embodiment of prayer. Every thought of his will be synonymous with that of the Master. He will never turn towards anything that is against the Divine will. His mind will always be directed towards that which is the Master's command.
Ignorance is Bliss....
From "Salient features of Sahaj Marg" Series 2 (Page 20)
The fact of unknowing, which Lalaji expressed so simply- Ignorance is Bliss. When there is a fire and I don't know that there is a fire, I am comparatively happier than if I know there is a fire.....
Be Like Lions
From "Salient Features of Sahaj Marg" Series 2 (Page 21)
Look within. Look to the Heart. Build your heart. Make it brave, make it strong, make it courageous. Be Lions, as Babuji wanted. He said: "One lion is worth more that five hundred sheep." It is not that we do not accept sheep but we accept sheep who are willing to become lions, not sheep who want to stay on as sheep.......And what was but a shepherd's pen has now become the jungle in which the lions roam freely. This is what we are setting out to achieve....
.....He wanted our hearts to be like lions - brave, courageous, capable of discrimination, able to give up everything for the sake of the Master.
Dying in Love
When there is love between two persons, wether husband and wife, father and son, mother and daughter, friends, guru and disciple- if this real love is there between the two, there will automatically develop a mutual respect, a mutual regard, even a mutual admiration, perhaps even a mutual worship. Because friendship must ripen into love, love must ripen into adoration. Adoration must ripen into worship, into surrender and then into extinction of the self.
Therefore you see, loving is dying. To love is to die. ........
From Salient Features of Sahaj Marg (SMRI Series 3) Page 52-53
Idol Worship;
Sahaj Marg has nowhere said temple worship is wrong, nor does Master expressly forbid idol worship. ....
To other abhyasis, the preceptor has become such an idol. I believe that any abhyasi who says, "my preceptor" when talking about the preceptor who is serving him has fallen into this form of idol worship. Here it is the preceptor who has been transformed into an idol, or idolised. Here again the Master may be in the background, but is that Master's rightful place? When Master says that every gods are fuctionaries of Nature, and are there to serve, and not to be served, can we deify preceptors and relatives in this way?
I must say that preceptors generally do not fall into this error. But abhyasis idolize them to the extent of ascribing to them the credit which should go to the Master. Where our credit is given, there goes our gratitude and this is followed by our love. So, wrongly ascribed credit can be disastrous in leading to the creation of an idol for us. So Master's message is quite clear. All credit goes to our Master. When we give credit where it is not due, that too is a form of idol worship. We should beware of falling into such errors.......
Page 19....
Connections with relations should be established in such a way that the inner bond should appear severed. However one should be a partner in their joys and sorrows. This should be with everybody.
Refrain from entering into monetary transactions. When they are in dire need, financial help should be given to the extent that one does not feel sorry if the money is not returned, and relations are not strained.
Page 25....
If you think that it is your Mission, it is your Master, it is His plant, therefore, it is yours, then there is no sacrifice, there is no giving. You are only watering your own plant. Who should you credit for it?
To think that my Master depends on my donation could very possibly be a sin. Masters exist in a dimension where money does not play a part. Whenever he makes us donate something, he does so to lighten our burdens. Our contribution to our Master's work is perhaps of the same proportion as the squirrel's contribution to Lord Rama's work.
....But they did it out of a sense of participation, like children participating in the work. Out of Love, you see, participation out of Love.
Page 32.....
Rightness....
I have known Master refusing a beggar five paise. I have known Master castigating our foreign abhyasis when they came and paid the rikshawwala ten rupees when the standard fare was three rupees. He was not generous. He was always right. Rightness does not mean generosity, rightness does not mean honesty, it does not mean anything. .....
Master’s New Year Address (2002)
…So, since you asked me to speak, I’m speaking. I hope you are listening carefully, and you will ATTEMPT to follow the practise sincerely, with dedication, with absolute faithfulness to the practice, so that within a few short months, you will be able to feel in yourself that, “Yes, there is something in me which has changed. Yes, I see it myself, therefore I don’t need others to tell me anything about it. I am happy, so I don’t need other people to make me happy. I am content, I don’t need anything else to make me content. Where I sit in peace, thinking of my Master, I have the sole companion in my life whom I need. I don’t need anybody else to give me company. Then you will find happiness in Sahaj Marg , you will find fulfillment in Sahaj Marg . You will be ALONE but NEVER LONELY. YOU WILL HAVE NO RELATIVES, but you will have the one friend without whom we can do nothing and whom we don’t have, though we have many friends! He who has no Master, may have many friends but no real friend. He who has the Master may have only one friend but He is the real friend. And may that true friend be with you, guide you, help you, and take you to Himself.
Happy New Year, and may the Master bless you.
Thank you.
How to surrender? (become a “living dead”)
To effect the surrender of God in the easiest way, only an act of will is required. Self surrender is nothing but a state of complete resignation to the will of Master with total disregard of self.
1. The only effective way to attach one’s self firmly to the Abhyas is, to link himself with the Unlimited or in other words with one who, having linked himself with the unlimited, has attained the state of perfection. When you have linked yourself thus it means that the great personality has taken you in the bosom of his heart. Your effort towards going deep into it means you have taken up the path towards the Ultimate. That is what the word surrender conveys and which is the only surest path for the attainment of complete perfection. So long as you do a thing and know that you are doing it, it is not the right course and you are away from the level of surrender, because the feeling of ego is also there. Surrender is free from any conscious idea of ego. Everything there goes on in an automatic way according to the need of the moment without any previous or after thought.
2. The easiest and surest means to achieve this end (Absolute State) is to surrender yourself to the great Master in true sense and become a ‘Living Dead’ yourself. This feeling of surrender if cultivated by forced and mechanical means seldom prove to be genuine. It must develop automatically within you without the least strain or pressure upon the mind. Even if the knowledge of this fact is retained then it is not the true form of surrender. What remains to be done, when you have surrendered yourself in true sense, is, I believe, nothing. In this state you will be in close touch with Reality all the time and the current of Divine Effulgence will continue its flow to you without a break.
Talk on 21st November 2001. 7 a.m.
Dehradun (While addressing a family, about to be newly introduced to the system, after he had spoken to them about the system for about 1 hour) It is an important thing this that when we accept a Master, we accept Him completely. It is not that He is only a Master for spirituality, and we look to others for other things.
From Spider's Web (Book) (volume 1)
Question: Will the dependence on the Master ever stop?
Page 53
An Abhyasis asked the Master: "You are always talking of liberation and freedom, but everything you teach seems to need more and more dependence on the Master. Can you please explain this?"
Master replied, "Yes, you are right. But the attachment and dependence on the Master is only for the purpose of detaching you from the rest of creation, and finally, a stage comes when the dependence on the Master is cut. Thereafter, you are on you own in direct contact with God."
Page 90
....This is the way of the spiritual soldier.
Page 91
On Astrology...
Whatever may be the status of astrology as a science, sincere abhyasis of the Mission should not be guided by it because my Master has categorically said that sadhana is to change one's destiny. Therefore, for a sincere abhyasi, astrology cannot and will not work. It can only talk about the past very accurately. The future is in our hands to create with my Master's grace, blessing and help. Your coming into the Mission may have been because of your merit carried over from the past. However, nobody can leave the Mission exept through foolishness and superstitious belief in other things. So you should never think of this.
Page 93
....It is Master's grace that we are moving so rapidly from change to change without most of the persons perceiving anything. What a great protection Master offers us.
Page 95..
...If you want to become perfect, you should emulate your Master in all aspects of life.
Talk at Satkhol Jan 29, 2001 (transcribed from Video)
Q : Master, the desire to reach the goal, you cannot call it a desire to reach the goal ?
R : One man, one time.
Think, think !
We have got into too much of these stereotypes,
Q : Of what?
R : Stereotypes, that insulin is necessary for diabetes, vaccine for this, something for
that.
(Speaking with the 2 girls)
We have to do it. See, suppose you feed me, you have given away one meal for which you
should have worked for years. So, a man can give, or a human being gives only by taking
somebody’s else share.
12:30 p.m.
On why a lady cannot be a Master Babuji said that a Master of that caliber gets orders from above, and their work includes that of destruction. A woman is not capable of such destruction. All this talk about equality between men and women the more they talk about something, the less they will get it. Equality is different from equalization. There are high pressure and low pressure areas. In the process of equalization, the wind flows from here to there, and this process if what creates the climate. If the pressure were the same everywhere, there would be no climate. This is the way of nature: Inequality Equalization Inequality Equalization (alluding to a low pressure building, winds blowing from other high pressure areas, another low pressure building up, etc.) Today you see American woman trying to do everything that the male does. They join the navy seals It is not a job for them. I might offend the woman here, but God did not create both as equals. Each have their own sphere of functioning.
25th November 2001, 8:45 a.m
Satkhol Before the morning satsangh, the door of the meditation hall was left open, and Master asked someone to close it. After this was done, an abhyasi walked in, leaving the door open again. This was closed, only for the same scene to happen yet again! Master said In the West, they have a habit to leave things as they were. If a door is open, they will leave the door open. If a door was closed, they will close the door behind them. They will leave things as they find it. This practice makes life very simple. There are many things we should learn from the West. It is the Indians who have the arrogance to leave things any which way. Some closes a door. Someone opens a door. It is a mess. (Later an abhyasi recalled a dream in which he saw Lalaji as Babuji as Love, and Chariji as Discipline). Master recalled Babujis directive in Paris (1982) to Him to bring discipline into the mission. But there are several people still in the mission who are undisciplined. So saying, He turned and looked at a girl who was sitting right next to Him (As if He was saying this to her). And almost immediately, she began to wipe off some tears from the corner of her eyes. And Master, looking at this, said Now, Dont you start. I do not understand women at all. Say the slightest of things harshly, and they begin to create a scene. It appears that I should only talk about superficial things like the food, the weather, etc. to them. Anything stronger than that, they cannot take it. I do not know what Mami (referring to His late wife) will think about all this. Maybe she will pull me up for what I am saying now, once I get to the brighter world. I do not know whether I am going there or not, but she is there. Babuji is saying You are doing good work. So continue doing it. You have built Satkhol. Go on, and build more places like this Master said that, in 2005, we would have a new ashram in Uttar Kashi, which is the place where the Sapta Rishis (the Seven Sages governing the universe) came down to the Earth to meditate. He also talked about an ashram in the place where Pathanjali had his ashram
Why Group Sittings?
The third reason is easy: because He said so, and therefore, we obey. So you see, group satsanghs are important because they amplify our efforts, the results being far bigger than the sum of individual efforts, and we learn tolerance, respect and love.
Comments by ex-abhyasi of SRCM....
“Dependence on the Guru so as to detach yourself from the rest of creation”, means detaching yourself from your friends and family, pets, problems of daily life etc This is not spirituality but psychiatry…take a pill)…..Loving and caring for the life and the world we have created is spirituality, not escaping, detaching and shirking our responsibility. The type of spirituality they are selling for the living is one for the moment of death. No wonder they sell the “living dead” concept as “spiritual”. Let them die, we should remain alive until we die, and try to help rather that deserting and neglecting in the name of GOD.
Now the “serf” has an attachment (dependence/ addiction) to a person (a capitalist at that) that is not there (living in India) and can request anything from his “serfs” (money, service etc…ie what the friends and family did), The Guru promises to be there at her death but he is not there now, so? We (the family) will still have the duty of caring for the person until she dies, burying the body, and then the Guru will magically appear and take her to God….Yeah! Right! If anyone buys that, I got a Bridge for sale !!
Soldiers must always obey and are not free to disobey... (to the point of killing)...We are not soldiers, but pilgrims...We are FREE.....but must forever protect (control/be on guard) ourselves from the religion, army and/or gang creators....Kings and Leaders with “divine inspiration”, including the Indian Brahmin, in their greed and lust for power and immortality that always divide the citizenry into them and us......
Let them (the megalomaniacs) become Gods in their own minds and mythology and leave the good people alone (us) to mend the divisions they create
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Lessons From the Sahaj Marg Page on Wiki
From Sahaj Marg page for April 19, 2007 on Wikipedia before the "stub".
==Method (daily practice)==
There are three steps to the practice: morning meditation, evening cleaning and night prayer meditation. The rest of the day should be spent in 'constant remembrance' of the Master thinking that all our actions are being done by the Master. The disciple is encouraged to see the Master in India or when he comes to a place near them.
===Practice of Meditation for Beginners===
===Morning Meditation===
Sit in meditation for an hour thinking that Divine Light is present in your heart. Do it in quite a simple and natural way without forcing your mind. Never mind if you do not see the light there. Start with a mere supposition, so to say, and sit meditating in one posture with your attention turned towards the heart in a natural way without any effort to concentrate. Try to be unmindful of the thoughts arising at that time.
(From "Some Important Features of Sahaj Marg" by Ram Chandra (Founder & President)published by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Shahjahanpur, U.P. See references)
=== Transmission ===
According to Sahaj Marg adherents, it is the Divine Energy or Essence, which the guru is able to focus by virtue of his claimed spiritual attainments and pour into the heart of the aspirant. It apparently removes impurities and impressions (samskaras) and transmits into the abhyasi spiritual growth-potential. This transmission is allegedly something which is capable of being felt by anybody who practices this system for a brief period.(see references: srcm.org)
===Night Prayer===
Babuji gave out the practice for the prayer as follows:
"Just before going to bed at night, offer prayer. The proper and the most effective method of prayer is to sit in a suppliant mood and repeat the same mentally twice or thrice. Then begin to meditate over its true sense and try to get lost into it."
(See references-"Some Important Features of Sahaj Marg", Second Edition 1981, Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Shahjahanpur.)
===Prayer===
:"0, Master!
:Thou art the real goal of human life,
:We are yet but slaves of wishes
:Putting bar to our advancement,
:Thou art the only God and power
:To bring us up to that stage."
To Whom is the Mission Prayer Addressed and Why
"Babuji himself has written that ultimately He (pointing upwards) is the real Master . . . and all the human Masters who come on this world, on this earth, are His representatives. If that is so, then why do we address the prayer, "Oh, Master" and not "Oh, God". Now today I am giving you the answer for that. Because God, it is a living God who is before you in the form of the Master ...this is an embodied flesh-and-blood divinity . . . who can understand our needs; who can understand our temperaments; who can sympathize with us, being human himself; who can accept our failings, perhaps having failed himself in some way . . ."
''From''[http://www.srcm.org/welcome/commencepractice.jsp Shri Ram Chandra Mission]'' website''
==Aims and ideals==
'''The Ten Maxims of Sahaj Marg'''
* Rise before dawn. Offer your prayer and puja at a fixed hour, preferably before sunrise, sitting in one and the same pose. Have a separate place and seat for worship. Purity of mind and body should be specially adhered to.
* Begin your puja with a prayer for spiritual elevation, with a heart full of love and devotion.
* Fix up your goal which should be 'complete oneness' with God. Rest not till the ideal is achieved.
* Be plain and simple to be identical with nature.
* Be truthful. Take miseries as Divine Blessings for your own good and be thankful.
* Know all people as thy brethren and treat them as such.
* Be not revengeful for the wrongs done by others. Take them with gratitude as heavenly gifts.
* Be happy to eat in constant divine thoughts whatever you get, with due regard to honest and pious earnings.
* Mould your life so as to arouse a feeling of love and piety in others.
* At bedtime, feeling the presence of God, repent for the wrongs committed. Beg forgiveness in a supplicant mood, resolving not to allow repetition of the same.
==Teachings from the Sahaj Marg material==
Its adherents see it as a natural, simple heart-based approach to realizing the presence of the [[divinity|divine]] within their lives. For adherents of Shri Ram Chandra Mission, their Master is their spiritual guide. [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/moreonmasters.html/#more
Sahaj Marg, according to its adherents, is a remodeled and modified version of [[Raja Yoga]] (yoga of the mind) simplified to suit and help the man of present-day world to achieve the same level of inner perfection as the Master, which according to Sahah Marg is a synonym for God Realization. It is a [[Renunciate|non-renunciate]] form of Raja Yoga, the '[[Renunciate|renunciation]]' (renouncing the material world) of Raja Yoga having been
replaced by '[[detachment]]' (detachment from the material world) and attachment to the Divine. Adherents will note that the "austerities" (tapas) and the Yamas of Raja Yoga, with regards to the "non-receiving of any gifts" as described by Swami Vivekananda are not part of Sahaj Marg. (Complete works of Swami Vivekananda-see references)
The Mind is the key instrument in a human being and by proper regulation of mind through meditation under practical guidance and support of a spiritual Master, who allegedly erases one's samskaras (imprints on the soul by our past thoughts or actions), one can evolve to the highest that the Master has attained. The Master transmits to the disciple directly or through a preceptor that the disciple sees once a week in a private sitting. There is also one or two group sittings and reading of Master's material every week. There is a suggested daily practice which involves a daily meditation, a daily cleansing, a weekly private sitting with a preceptor, and one or two group sittings per week. There are gatherings on the birthdays of the Masters. Some abhyasis organize discussions of the guru's writings. Reading of the Master's writings is suggested. Vegetarianism is encouraged.
Sahaj Marg is a non-monastic movement. Sahaj Marg emphatically asserts that a householder's life is the best school for spiritual progress. Those who adhere to the practice are referred to as '[[abhyasi]]s'; a preceptor is an [[abhyasi]] who has been prepared and permitted by the Master to introduce people to the Sahaj Marg system and conduct group meditation. Sahaj Marg says that adherents of all religions are welcome, and do not have to reject their religion to practice Sahaj Marg.
Group meditations and individual sitting with preceptors (which takes place in isolation and only the preceptor and the abhyasi is present) are free of charge. There is a one-time fee for producing [http://www.srcm.org/members/forms/membershipcards/cardinfo_india1_processing.jsp membership cards] which is required to access all Mission facilities and gatherings. Voluntary donations are requested to cover expenses for gatherings and stays at Mission Ashrams. All the subscriptions for printed, audio and video material have their own costs depending on the type of material. Books CD's etc are charged appropriately.
Due to the technique used in SRCM, it has been reported by some people that they experienced physical difficulties after receiving a "sitting". Abhyasis have occasionally reported minor nausea and headaches after such sittings. These are supposed to be the side effects of the "cleansing" of their system. In addition, a few new abhyasis could also experience [http://www.hindu-forum.org/printview.php?t=584&start=0&sid=b0a3c735cf6fc716a4f344467432e022 emotional] issues in the beginning.
According to Babuji, the Founder of Sahaj Marg, children are not to be in the room during meditation. The suggested minimum age limit for beginning Sahaj Marg meditation is 18yrs old.
=== On other religions ===
'''On all religions'''- Sahaj Marg claims to "erase Samskaras" (imprint on the soul). The current Master, Chariji, (please see note below - Chari requests all to stop addressing him as "Master") stated that abhyasis were lucky. If they were in religion, he said, they would have to go to church and "you know", tell lies in that "wonderful place called the confessional". “Lord, forgive me for what I have done this week.” And there would be an equally sinful priest on the other side of the curtain saying, “In the name of the [[Jesus Christ|Lord Jesus Christ]] I absolve you of your sins.” Something that according to Chariji, he has no power to do. No man on earth has power, he states, to absolve you of your sins except two people: one, oneself, and the other, God. In between there is nobody who can do it, he stated. Then he added, that is why religion is useless, that is why religion has failed. That’s why, the Master (please see note below - Chari requests all to stop addessing him as Master) stated, the abhyasis are all there, not in church. (Speech, (Reverence, Respect & Restraint), Denmark, Nov. 2005, see references)
...and later:
Chariji stated that he was no Christ, ("you know"), to crucify himself on the cross for all of them. Did they think Christ was a wise man, he asked, that he (Christ) became crucified so that forever and ever after humanity would be absolved of its sins? "I don’t think so", he said. It gave people more license for indulgence. But after all, he said, they have been forgiven two thousand years ago for what they are going to do today, what their children were going to do ten years hence. He said that he did not think he (Christ) was wise. According to Chariji, he (Christ) left no room, no incentive for human beings to change, become moral, become spiritual. He said that they were all happy that they had a Christ who got crucified. He added that none of us weep for Christ and that we were happy. “God bless him,” we say, which is another blasphemy. He then said that the abhyasis need blessings, not Christ. (Speech, (Reverence, Respect & Restraint), Denmark, Nov. 2005, see references)
At a preceptors' seminar in January, 2001, Chariji stated:
"In the Indian scene, the Hindus and Hinduism is corrupt. God is personified as somebody who can be bribed with gifts, with so called prasads - offering temptation of Heaven which fact Babuji emphasized in His teachings, saying that religions depends on two instruments - temptation and fear."
"I am afraid that Sahaj Marg is suffering in this way because even when Christian people become abhyasis and preceptors, they somehow, somewhere along the way seem to lose this idea of love, charity, compassion, faith and become preceptors. So what Spirituality offers and can deliver, our priesthood, I would categorize you as, say temporarily as priesthood - they destroy." (Speech, Preceptor's Seminar, Jan. 2001-See references)
Written in the Sahaj Marg material: Abhyasi's question:"..... "Why do I have to give up my existing religious practices....."
Master's answer: "All religious practice involve the worship of God as being outside us. It is called Bahya Upachara in Sanskrit. Spirituality puts God where HE really is - inside the human heart, and indeed at the heart of every created thing, as [[Krishna|Lord Krishna]] says in the [[Bhagavad Gita]]. One cannot mix the two. In the [[Vedas]] Murthy Pooja is called the lowest form of worship. Mantra is only a way of pleasing the mind, and bhajans please the senses, while giving the illusion of being a form of worship. I trust that this will be satisfactory. If people have more questions, they should be encouraged to read the Gita slowly, and try to understand it. Love to all." (Sahaj Sandesh No.: 2005.31- See references) (please see note below - Chari requests all to stop addressing him as Master)
According to the teaching of this system, God is simple, and therefore, the way to reach Him must be simple. On the Nature of the Divine, when asked why in all the written material, God was referred to as "Him", Chariji replied: "God is Male, Nature is female." (SMRTI-Youth Services-Story Telling-See references)
Chariji has repeatedly asked people to stop calling him "Master" or referring to him as such.
In his "Heart to Heart - Vol. 1" by P. Rajagopalachari. (Pages 270-280 "Who is a Master?") 1st Edition 1988 - Published by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Pacific Grove, CA, USA.
"But somje people persist in addressing me as "Master". I have been annoyed by this practice myself..I have never claimed to be a Master.. It is unfortunate that some people ..are addressing me by that term."
"So in fact, the purpose of my talk is to request all of you to stop addressing me as Master."
In spite of this, many of Chariji's followers seem to persist in disobeying his requests.
=== On chosing a master ===
On '''choosing a guru''', Chariji in his book: ''Heart of the Lion'', states:
"...while there are innumerable gurus, the real guru is none but God himself. It is the duty of each guru to lead his disciple to the next higher one when his own work with the disciple is finished. No guru should hold his disciples to himself possessively. A guru is for service to others and not for building up possessions, power and prestige for himself ."
(Taken from My Master, p. 28, chapter "Tolerance" - Chariji)
"....So I repeat, the Guru is the only friend. In fact, I have said this so often, that in the Sufi philosophy, the Guru is called Friend. "The Friend is coming". Because he is the only fellow who can give his life for you. He is the only fellow, therefore, to whom you must hand over totally, a Power of Attorney....."Do with me as you think I deserve to be done with. Kick me when I have to be kicked. Beat me when I have to be beaten. Curse me when I have to be cursed. But make of me what you think I should be eventually, because only you can do it."
"So once more I say this in all humility....if you must have a Master, find a fellow who is capable of, you know, throwing you around, beating you up, cutting you to pieces. Remember Parushurama's father and the stern test that young boy had to make for obedience...."Kill your Mother". "Yes"..."
"He pulled out the sword and cut off her head. He said, "I am pleased with you my son. Ask for anything you want." He said, "I want my mother alive." And He said, "So be it." and she got up and walked off. The Guru is the Master, when you say of destiny, it means life and death. He must be the Master of your life as he must be the Master of your death." (From Heart of the Lion, Shri Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari-see references)
Chari has repeatedly asked people to stop calling him "Master" or referring to him as such.
In his "Heart to Heart - Vol.l" by P. Rajagopalachari. (Pages 270-280 "Who is a Master?") 1st Edition 1988 - Published by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Pacific Grove, CA, USA.
"But some people persist in addressing me as "Master". I have been annoyed by this practice myself..I have never claimed to be a Master..It is unfortunate that some people ..are addressing me by that term.So in fact, the purpose of my talk is to request all of you to stop addressing me as Master."
=== On freedom ===
On '''freedom''', in Salient Points of Sahaj Marg, it states that with Sahaj Marg, abhyasis have voluntarily, whole-heartedly and devotedly surrendered it to the Master of their Soul. To those who are fortunate enough to arrive at this stage, the Master is apparently no longer a guide for spirituality alone. He has now become the Master of the abhyasis' life in all it's aspects of existence. He apparently has become the father, the mother, the son, the teacher, the doctor, in fact, there is no role that He does not play in the abhyasi's life. He has taken total charge of the abhyasi. It further states that only the surrendering to Him can bring about a state where He can take total charge of the abhyasis!
(From Salient Features of Sahaj Marg - Series 2- Page 26 See references)
=== On homosexuality ===
On '''homosexuality''', the Master (please see referenced note - Chari requests all to stop addressing him as Master)of this system in a recent speech said that unlike the churches of the world, Sahaj Marg does not perform same-sex marriages. "That is unnatural", he said. God did not intend it to be thus, he added. He then said it was a personal comment. But there are things credited to Babuji Maharaj “If God did not want two sexes, he could have as well created one and seen that the world propagated by itself."...Why two sexes? he questioned. Apparently not so that one sex should marry among themselves, according to Sahaj Marg Masters. "So, what the church may allow, I don’t have to condone or accept", he said, not mentionning what churches condones or performs same-sex marriages. "To me", Chariji said, "it is a very blatant misuse of so-called privileges of the human being, fundamental rights, et cetera. Of course, if you claim it is your fundamental right to go the dogs, so be it! Even God cannot stop it.
[http://www.srcm.org/literature/recent.speeches/060120_Malaysia.jsp Speech by Chariji "Balance-The Crux of Life" Jan 20, 2006 in Malaysia]
Some claim it is a fact (unsubstantiated) that there are followers, both abhyasis and preceptors who are homosexual. {{Fact|date=February 2007}}
There are other claims that gay families have been broken up or have left. (see testimonial on discussion page) {{Fact|date=February 2007}}
=== On philosophy ===
On the '''philosophy''' of Sahaj Marg, in a speech on New Year's Day, 2005
at Babuji Memorial Ashram, Manapakkam, India, according to Chariji, there is no room for philosophy in speeches of Sahaj Marg. In fact, he stated, "Sahaj Marg has no philosophy. It does not rest on any philosophy. It is neither advaita nor dvaita nor vishishta advaita." (From Speech by Shri Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari -Jan 1, 2005 at Babuji Memorial Ashram, Manapakkam, India- see references)
On the other hand, the founder of the Shri Ram Chandra Mision, Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur, affectionately known as "Babuji", wrote the book: "SAHAJ MARG PHILOSOPHY", first published by the Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Shahjahanpur, in 1969.
=== Be like lions ===
'''Be like lions:''' Sahaj Marg wants the abhyasis to be like lions:
The abhyasi is asked to look within. Look to the Heart. Build your heart, they are told. Make it brave, make it strong, make it courageous. They are asked to be lions, as Babuji wanted, he exhorts. He said: "One lion is worth more that five hundred sheep." It is not that we do not accept sheep but we accept sheep who are willing to become lions, not sheep who want to stay on as sheep.......And what was but a shepherd's pen has now become the jungle in which the lions roam freely. This is what Sahaj Marg is setting out to achieve, according to Babuji.
".....He wanted our hearts to be like lions - brave, courageous, capable of discrimination, able to give up everything for the sake of the Master."
(From Salient Points of Sahaj Marg, Series 2-Page 21 see references)
=== On idolatry ===
On '''idolatry''', the Sahaj Marg material states:
"Sahaj Marg has nowhere said temple worship is wrong, nor does Master expressly forbid idol worship" ....To abhyasis, the preceptor, apparently, becomes such an idol. The author states: "I believe that any abhyasi who says, "my preceptor" when talking about the preceptor who is serving him has fallen into this form of idol worship." It appears that there is concern that the preceptor can be transformed into an idol, or idolised. The author follows: "Here again the Master may be in the background, but is that Master's rightful place?"
"So Master's message is quite clear. All credit goes to our Master. When we give credit where it is not due, that too is a form of idol worship. We should beware of falling into such errors......."
("Salient Features of Sahaj Marg" (SMRI Series 3) Page 52-53 see references)
=== On donations ===
On '''donations''', the abhyasis is to think that it is their Mission, it is their Master, it is His plant, therefore, it is theirs, then, apparently, there is no sacrifice, there is no giving. The abhyasis are only watering their own plant. Who should they credit for it, is the question asked by the Master.
To think that the Master depends on the abhyasis' donation could very possibly be a sin, according to the Master. Masters exist in a dimension where money does not play a part. Whenever the Master makes the abhyasis donate something, he apparently does so as to lighten their burdens. Their contribution to the Master's work is apparently of the same proportion as the squirrel's contribution to Lord Rama's work.
(from Salient Points of Sahaj Marg Series 3- Page 25 See references)
According to SRCM Shahjahanpur, registered in India, this statement about donations is not part of the original teachings of Sahaj Marg and does not exist in the original tenets or philosophy of Sahaj Marg, nor can it be considered to be in any way in the spirit of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission, or of its founder Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur (affectionately known as Babuji), nor that of his Master, Shri Ram Chandra of Fategarh (Lalaji).
See references-Books by Shri Ram Chandra (Babuji) including: "Some Important Features of Sahaj Marg", "The Efficacy of Raja Yoga in the Light of Sahaj Marg", "Towards Infinity", "Reality at Dawn" etc. All published by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, U.P., India.
See also: "Truth Eternal" - the original writings of Samarth Guru Shri Ram Chandra Maharaj of Fategarh, U.P. First edition published 1973 by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, U.P., India.
=== On democracy ===
On '''democracy''', the current Master, Chariji stated that until there are no walls, one cannot say, "We're a free people," because, according to Chariji, we are only selecting the people we will accept. According to him, democracy is like a club, a select club, a rich man's club, a club of power. According to Chariji, because any organisation, including a democracy, has the power of accepting or rejecting, we can't say it is a free organisation? "Yes or no?" he asked. "No", he replied.
Chariji claimed that Sahaj Marg has no such restriction. Everybody, from anywhere in the world is welcome. According to Chariji, everybody can come, everybody can go. Apparently, there are no restrictions. There are no fees. There are no restriction of education. "Is it a free organisation?", he asked. "Is it human? Is it the real democracy of a free people, for a free people, by a free people? Yes or no?" (Audience: "Yes.")"
Then Chari stated: "So Sahaj Marg is today, in my opinion, the only organisation in this world fulfilling the requirements of this definition of "Liberté, egalité, fraternité" [Freedom, equality, fraternity]. Vive le Sahaj Marg! [Long live Sahaj Marg!] (applause)."
(from Shri P. Rajagopalachari at Cossonay, Switzerland on July 13, 2003-see references)
==Masters and leadership==
According to Sahaj Marg material, there have been three [[guru]]s, or Masters, each of whom is believed to have passed on his spiritual condition and teachings to his most capable disciple.
The first guru of the Sahaj Marg lineage was [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/lalaji.html Shri Ram Chandraji] of Fategargh, affectionately known as [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/lalaji.html Lalaji] who was a Master of the Naqashbandi order of Sufism but who according to non-Sufi followers, became God realized after only 7 months of meditadion and created the "heart to heart" transmission. According to Naqsh MuMRa i.e. Naqshbandia Mujaddidia Mazaharia Ramchandria, Lalaji's Master was Maulana Fazl Ahmad Khan (Hujur Maharaj), sixth from Mirza Zanzana, and thirty-sixth in the line of succession of the Naqshbandi Order. Naqsh Mumra refers to a stream of the great Naqshbandi Sufi Silsila (Order). It is an Indian-Sufi branch. Before dying, Lalaji's spiritual competence was tested by his Master in a meditation with a multi-denominational panel. The panel agreed that Lalaji was a "perfect copy" of his Master. Lalaji, the first "giaour" or "non Muslim" of the Naqshbandia Order, lived from 1873 to 1931.
His successor (debated..see [http://www.yogabhyas.org/default.htm Yogabhyas] site) was [[Shri Ram Chandra Ji]] of [[Shahjahanpur]], who lived from 1899 to 1983 and was affectionately known as [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/babuji.html Babuji]. Babuji claims to have received his successorship from Lalaji in a dream. On the Sufi lineage or Naqsh MuMRa i.e. Naqshbandia Mujaddidia Mazaharia Ramchandria which refers to a stream of the great Naqshbandi Sufi Silsila (Order), Mahatma Ram Chandraji apparently blessed Thakur Ram Singhji to be a ‘Fanafil-Murid’ i.e. ‘a disciple with whom his Master has merged’ and that his fame would spread like the smell of roses.
The succession of the current guru, [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/chariji.html Chariji], has been debated by the sons of the late [http://www.sriramchandra.org/body.asp?file=master Dr.Varadachari], professor of Philosophy even though the former Guru [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/babuji.html Babuji], wrote an allegedly authenticated letter in which he stated the desire that Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari be his successor. Babuji gave three copies of the same letter stating his desire for Chariji to be his successor to Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari, Kasturi and a western associate.
Shri KC Narayana of the break-away ISRC (Institute for Ram Chandra Institute), who was a member of the Working committee of SRCM in 1974 does not dispute the Presidency of SRCM but claims that the words "spiritual representative" are not in the document. ISRC claims Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur as their Master.
Followers of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission (registered in California), consider Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari as their current guide. The Shri Ram Chandra Mission (registered in India), consider their Master and guide to be Babuji, and claim that the president of the Mission was Umesh Saxena, Babuji's son unitl his death. The presidency allegedly has passed to his son, and grandson of the Founder, Navneet Kumar.
Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari, the current living guru according to SRCM (California), was born in 1927, [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/chariji.html Shri Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari], a chemical engineer who in 1955, joined the T. T. Krishnamachari group of companies, thereafter rising to the position of Executive Director of the Indian Textile Paper Tube Company. He is affectionately known as [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/chariji.html Chariji]. He has announced Mr. Ajay Kumar Bhatter as his successor.
According to Babuji's family (Umesh Saxena and Navneet Kumar) and the SRCM registered in India in 1946, following the death of Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur (affectionately known as Babuji), founder of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission and the originator of Sahaj Marg, the Working Committee, Centre-in-Charge/Preceptors/Organizers of Shri Ram Chandra Mission in India and Abroad sent out a Circular, dated 15th February, 1984, naming Shri Umesh Chandra Saxena (Babuji's son)as Successor/President. This followed the Meetings of the Working Committee of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission (India) on 6/7th February, 1984, at Shahjahanpur, and the Meeting of the General Body (comprising 982 members present) of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission on 8th February, 1984.
[http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/facts.html (See] Circular, Working Committee, Centre-in-Charge/Preceptors/Organisers of Shri Ram Chandra Mission in India & Abroad, dated 15th February, 1984); Minutes of the Working Committee, 6/7th February, 1984, at Shahjahanpur, U.P., India.; Minutes of General Body Meeting (982 present), 8th February, 1984, Shahjahanpur, U.P., India.)
==Activities==
There are a range of activities:
*[http://www.spiritualityfoundation.org/welcome/smsf.html Sahaj Marg Spirituality Foundation]is a nonprofit association organized pursuant to the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act. Among other things, it funds scholarships for people wishing to visit India to [http://sahajmarg.org/welcome/crest/CREST_Inaugural_circular.pdf study spirituality], providing those without means with air ticket, shelter and food in one of the training centers specifically set up for this purpose. These are residential courses that claim to follow the ancient Indian "gurukula" system of education involving a spartan setting.
*Every year on July 24, SRCM organizes a gathering in the form of the Master's birthday celebration. This event lasts for three-days. The centerpiece of the gathering are the twice-daily satsanghs or group meditations. Other events include songs, dances and other cultural presentations from adult abhyasis and their children from the many regions where the Mission has a presence. These are usually done in the presence of the Master. Some come from far away to attend the festivities. Temporary living facilities are provided on site for thousands of visiting abhyasis at such events. Every year, a new town is selected and everyone is invited to attend. Because the Masters of Sahaj Marg have discussed at length, the significance of Mission gatherings to the abhyasis spiritual growth, all abhyasis are strongly encouraged by their peers and preceptors to attend. Similar gatherings are held for Lalaji and Babuji's birth anniversaries.
*There is no lodging and boarding charged for [http://www.srcm.org/members/forms/guidelines.pdf stays] at any ashram. While there is always a suggested donation while registering for Mission gatherings, it is possible for anyone to [http://www.srcm.org/registration/index.jsp register] for any event without donating anything. Those who wish to visit any ashram or attend a Mission event may carry their own bedding. However, if abhyasis so wish, they can [http://www.srcm.org/centers/bma/visiting/manapakkamtips.html purchase or rent bedding] for a daily fee and a refundable deposit at the ashram or the gathering site.
*[http://www.omegaschools.org/news_inauguration.htm Lalaji Memorial Omega School], managed by the Baal Vatika Educational Society, with Shri Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari as executive trustee. The Baal Vatika Educational Society accepts and manages funds for the School, which is located in Chennai, India and operates as a private school.
*Shri Ram Chandra Mission is part of the [[Ngo|NGO]] network and is listed as a non-governmental non-profit organization that works in support of the public good and fulfills the principles outlined in the United Nations.
*Value-Based Spiritual Education course materials have been developed.
*[http://sahajmarg.org/smrti/rc/studygrp/index.html Study groups], seminars for practitioners and the youth, school curriculum K-12 etc.
*The Mission participates in the relief activities during selected times of natural calamities by either collecting money and routing it through the Prime Minister's Relief fund or through other organizations involved in the operations.
*In some Ashrams there is also [http://www.srcm.org/members/forms/guidelines.pdf free medical assistance] provided to abhyasis.
*Donations also fund scholarships that allow practitioners who can't afford to travel to India, to spend some time in one of the [http://sahajmarg.org/smrti/scholarship/index.html ashrams].
*Donations are also used to purchase land and property for ashram.
*Donations are also used for travel and lodging of Master and people surrounding Master as and when they visit various locations.
Other modes of raising money is by sale of Mission books and CDs to members. Some titles include:
* "SOME IMPORTANT FEATURES OF SAHAJ MARG" by Shri Ram Chandra, published 1981 by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Shahjahanpur, U.P.)
* "The Efficacy of Raja Yoga in the Light of Sahaj Marg", "Towards Infinity", "Reality at Dawn" etc. All by Shri Ram Chandra and published by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, U.P., India.
* "Truth Eternal" - the original writings of Samarth Guru Shri Ram Chandra Maharaj of Fategarh, U.P. First edition published 1973 by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, U.P., India.
==Publications==
===Whispers from the ''Brighter World'===
This book of messages (over 600 messages) from the [[Sahaj Marg Philosophy#The Brighter World|''Brighter World'']], from the now-deceased Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur, (Babuji-1899-1983) and other departed spirits of "highly evolved" souls, according to [http://www.sahajmarg.org/sm/viewWhisperArchive.do?method=list SMRTI] is channelled by an un-named lady medium according to Chariji in his [http://www.sahajmarg.org/subscriptions/whispers/invitation.html "invitation"]. The book was published in limited quantities in 2005 by the [http://www.sahajmarg.org/sm/viewWhisperArchive.do?method=list Sahaj Marg Spirituality Foundation] and it is presented to those abhyasis who have voluntarily donated $250.00 US to the Shri Ram Chandra Mission. The text is being released free-of-charge in [[PDF]] format, one message per day, at [http://www.sahajmarg.org/sm/viewWhisperArchive.do?method=list www.sahajmarg.com].
===Other publications===
* [http://www.srcm.org/bookstore/catalog.jsp Complete Bibliography]
*'''Quarterly Periodicals'''
* Constant Remembrance - in English
* Sahaj Deepam - [[Kannada]]
* Sahaj Deepam - [[Malayalam]]
* Sahaj Deepam - [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
* Sahaj Margamu - [[Telugu language|Telugu]]
* Sahaj Shishu - [[Hindi]]
== References ==
Books:
* Spider's Web (volume 1)
* Salient Features of Sahaj Marg (SMRI Series 3)
* The Efficacy of Sahaj Marg
* My Master by Shri Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari
* Speech by Shri Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari (Chariji)
* "Some Important Features of SAHAJ MARG" by Shri Ram Chandra, published 1981 by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Shahjahanpur, U.P.
[http://www.srcm.org/literature/recent.speeches/051101_Denmark.jsp (Reverence, Respect and Restraint)] at the Seminar in Vrads Sande Castle, Denmark, Nov.1, 2005.
* Benedictory Speech (Become Acceptable) by Shri Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari, at Preceptors Seminar, at Babuji Memorial Ashram, Manapakkam, Chennai, India, Jan. 2001
* [http://www.sahajmarg.org/youth/story92.html Questions asked by children to Chariji about God], SMRTI, Youth Services-Story Telling
* Heart of the Lion, Shri Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari, Quote on P-14 (1993), 190 pages.
* Salient Features of Sahaj Marg - Series 2-Be like Lions P 21, Freedom-26
* [http://www.srcm.org/literature/recent.speeches/050101_Manapakkam.jsp Speech by Shri Rajagopalachari, Jan. 1, 2005 at Babuji Memorial Ashram, Manapakkam, INDIA,]
* Salient Features of Sahaj Marg" (SMRI Series 3) Donations- P 25, On Idolatry-Page 52-53
* [http://www.srcm.org/literature/recent.speeches/030713_Swiss.jsp Speech (Freedom) by Shri P. Rajagopalachari at Cossonay, Switzerland on July 13, 2003-Speech on Demnocracy]
* [http://www.ramakrishnavivekananda.info/vivekananda/volume_1/vol_1_frame.htm The Complete Works of Vivekananda] (see Raja Yoga-First Steps-Yama)
* [http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/facts.html Circular, Working Committee,] Centre-in-Charge/Preceptors/Organisers of Shri Ram Chandra Mission in India & Abroad, dated 15th February, 1984); Minutes of the Working Committee, 6/7th February, 1984, at Shahjahanpur, U.P., India.); Minutes of General Body Meeting] (982 present), 8th February, 1984, Shahjahanpur, U.P., India.)
*"Some Important Features of Sahaj Marg", Second Edition 1981, Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Shahjahanpur.
==See also==
*[[Shri Ram Chandra Mission]]
*[[Sahaja]]
*[[Sahaja Yoga]]
*[[List_of_groups_referred_to_as_cults_in_government_reports#France ]]
*[[Mind_control]]
==Warnings about SRCM by European Government and Cult Watch groups==
[http://www.miviludes.org/IMG/pdf/Report_MIVILUDES_2003.pdf Report Submitted to Prime Minister of France] Refer to page 81, of the document. Also footnote 24 and 25
[http://www.cftf.com/french/Les_Sectes_en_France/cults.html French NATIONAL ASSEMBLY Report](Ref: Cult movement's with 2000 to 10000 followers)
[http://www.anti-scientologie.ch/liens-bookmarks.htm Warning by Europe Cult watch group]
[http://www.prevensectes.com/shriram.htm Prevent Sect group warning]
[http://www.unadfi.com/spip.php?article340 UNADFI comments on SRCM and similar groups]
[http://www.icsahome.com International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)] Search for Ram Chandra Mission Chari group
==External links==
*[http://www.srcm.org Shri Ram Chandra Mission] (California-Registered)
*[http://www.sahajmarg.org Sahaj Marg Spirituality Foundation ][http://www.arb-forum.com/domains/decisions/94237.htm See domain dispute here]
*[http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/default.html Shri Ram Chandra Mission Shahjahanpur] (India-Registered)
'''Websites of associations with similar or same lineage as Shri Ram Chandra Mission:'''
* [http://www.sriramchandra.org/ Insitute for Ram Chandra Consciousness (ISRC)]
* [http://www.yogabhyas.org/default.htm Yogabhyas]
* [http://www.ramashram.com/ Ramashram- Guru Maharaj, Dr. Chaturbhuj Sahay Ji]
* [http://www.geocities.com/sufisaints/ Sufism in India and Naqsh MuMRa by Dr. RK Gupta]
* [http://naqshmumraif.googlepages.com/chiraggohil "Laalaaji Nilayam" Golden Chain (Lalaji's Family]
* [http://laalaajinilayam.googlepages.com/vasihatnaama Parampujya Laalaaji’s Vasihatnaama Lalaji's Will]
* [http://www.abssatsang.org/founder.htm ABS Satsang]
'''Warnings and Information about Cults '''
*[http://www.factnet.org/rancho1.htm Discription of Cult groups]
*[http://www.cultinformation.org.uk/home.html Cult Information Center]
*[http://www.freedomofmind.com/ Freedom of Mind Steve Hassan]
*[http://www.infocult.org/ Canadian Site About Information on Cults]
*[http://www.caic.org.au/ Cult Awareness and Information Centre]
Blogs and Discussions of dissociated, questioning and/or ex-abhyasis:
* [http://innercircleofsrcm.blogspot.com/ Inner Circle of SRCM-USA]
* [http://spydi.blogspot.com/ Spiritual Discussion] (replaces Christian's "Poxy SRCM")
* [http://membres.lycos.fr/mielk/english.html Mielk - A French Analysis- France-Fr. & Eng.]
* [http://pourquevivelesahajmarg.blogspot.com/ The Desperate Abhyasi-France-Fr. & Eng.]
* [http://www.geocities.com/sha211_211/srcm.html Freedom to Speak Power to Speak]
*[http://www.hindu-forum.org/printview.php?t=584&start=0&sid=b0a3c735cf6fc716a4f344467432e022 Discussion on Hindu-Forum by an abhyasi who practiced for two days]
* [http://www2.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=38502554&postID=116799486675384209 Discussion by abhyasi who practised this method for 14 yrs ]
==Method (daily practice)==
There are three steps to the practice: morning meditation, evening cleaning and night prayer meditation. The rest of the day should be spent in 'constant remembrance' of the Master thinking that all our actions are being done by the Master. The disciple is encouraged to see the Master in India or when he comes to a place near them.
===Practice of Meditation for Beginners===
===Morning Meditation===
Sit in meditation for an hour thinking that Divine Light is present in your heart. Do it in quite a simple and natural way without forcing your mind. Never mind if you do not see the light there. Start with a mere supposition, so to say, and sit meditating in one posture with your attention turned towards the heart in a natural way without any effort to concentrate. Try to be unmindful of the thoughts arising at that time.
(From "Some Important Features of Sahaj Marg" by Ram Chandra (Founder & President)published by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Shahjahanpur, U.P. See references)
=== Transmission ===
According to Sahaj Marg adherents, it is the Divine Energy or Essence, which the guru is able to focus by virtue of his claimed spiritual attainments and pour into the heart of the aspirant. It apparently removes impurities and impressions (samskaras) and transmits into the abhyasi spiritual growth-potential. This transmission is allegedly something which is capable of being felt by anybody who practices this system for a brief period.(see references: srcm.org)
===Night Prayer===
Babuji gave out the practice for the prayer as follows:
"Just before going to bed at night, offer prayer. The proper and the most effective method of prayer is to sit in a suppliant mood and repeat the same mentally twice or thrice. Then begin to meditate over its true sense and try to get lost into it."
(See references-"Some Important Features of Sahaj Marg", Second Edition 1981, Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Shahjahanpur.)
===Prayer===
:"0, Master!
:Thou art the real goal of human life,
:We are yet but slaves of wishes
:Putting bar to our advancement,
:Thou art the only God and power
:To bring us up to that stage."
To Whom is the Mission Prayer Addressed and Why
"Babuji himself has written that ultimately He (pointing upwards) is the real Master . . . and all the human Masters who come on this world, on this earth, are His representatives. If that is so, then why do we address the prayer, "Oh, Master" and not "Oh, God". Now today I am giving you the answer for that. Because God, it is a living God who is before you in the form of the Master ...this is an embodied flesh-and-blood divinity . . . who can understand our needs; who can understand our temperaments; who can sympathize with us, being human himself; who can accept our failings, perhaps having failed himself in some way . . ."
''From''[http://www.srcm.org/welcome/commencepractice.jsp Shri Ram Chandra Mission]'' website''
==Aims and ideals==
'''The Ten Maxims of Sahaj Marg'''
* Rise before dawn. Offer your prayer and puja at a fixed hour, preferably before sunrise, sitting in one and the same pose. Have a separate place and seat for worship. Purity of mind and body should be specially adhered to.
* Begin your puja with a prayer for spiritual elevation, with a heart full of love and devotion.
* Fix up your goal which should be 'complete oneness' with God. Rest not till the ideal is achieved.
* Be plain and simple to be identical with nature.
* Be truthful. Take miseries as Divine Blessings for your own good and be thankful.
* Know all people as thy brethren and treat them as such.
* Be not revengeful for the wrongs done by others. Take them with gratitude as heavenly gifts.
* Be happy to eat in constant divine thoughts whatever you get, with due regard to honest and pious earnings.
* Mould your life so as to arouse a feeling of love and piety in others.
* At bedtime, feeling the presence of God, repent for the wrongs committed. Beg forgiveness in a supplicant mood, resolving not to allow repetition of the same.
==Teachings from the Sahaj Marg material==
Its adherents see it as a natural, simple heart-based approach to realizing the presence of the [[divinity|divine]] within their lives. For adherents of Shri Ram Chandra Mission, their Master is their spiritual guide. [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/moreonmasters.html/#more
Sahaj Marg, according to its adherents, is a remodeled and modified version of [[Raja Yoga]] (yoga of the mind) simplified to suit and help the man of present-day world to achieve the same level of inner perfection as the Master, which according to Sahah Marg is a synonym for God Realization. It is a [[Renunciate|non-renunciate]] form of Raja Yoga, the '[[Renunciate|renunciation]]' (renouncing the material world) of Raja Yoga having been
replaced by '[[detachment]]' (detachment from the material world) and attachment to the Divine. Adherents will note that the "austerities" (tapas) and the Yamas of Raja Yoga, with regards to the "non-receiving of any gifts" as described by Swami Vivekananda are not part of Sahaj Marg. (Complete works of Swami Vivekananda-see references)
The Mind is the key instrument in a human being and by proper regulation of mind through meditation under practical guidance and support of a spiritual Master, who allegedly erases one's samskaras (imprints on the soul by our past thoughts or actions), one can evolve to the highest that the Master has attained. The Master transmits to the disciple directly or through a preceptor that the disciple sees once a week in a private sitting. There is also one or two group sittings and reading of Master's material every week. There is a suggested daily practice which involves a daily meditation, a daily cleansing, a weekly private sitting with a preceptor, and one or two group sittings per week. There are gatherings on the birthdays of the Masters. Some abhyasis organize discussions of the guru's writings. Reading of the Master's writings is suggested. Vegetarianism is encouraged.
Sahaj Marg is a non-monastic movement. Sahaj Marg emphatically asserts that a householder's life is the best school for spiritual progress. Those who adhere to the practice are referred to as '[[abhyasi]]s'; a preceptor is an [[abhyasi]] who has been prepared and permitted by the Master to introduce people to the Sahaj Marg system and conduct group meditation. Sahaj Marg says that adherents of all religions are welcome, and do not have to reject their religion to practice Sahaj Marg.
Group meditations and individual sitting with preceptors (which takes place in isolation and only the preceptor and the abhyasi is present) are free of charge. There is a one-time fee for producing [http://www.srcm.org/members/forms/membershipcards/cardinfo_india1_processing.jsp membership cards] which is required to access all Mission facilities and gatherings. Voluntary donations are requested to cover expenses for gatherings and stays at Mission Ashrams. All the subscriptions for printed, audio and video material have their own costs depending on the type of material. Books CD's etc are charged appropriately.
Due to the technique used in SRCM, it has been reported by some people that they experienced physical difficulties after receiving a "sitting". Abhyasis have occasionally reported minor nausea and headaches after such sittings. These are supposed to be the side effects of the "cleansing" of their system. In addition, a few new abhyasis could also experience [http://www.hindu-forum.org/printview.php?t=584&start=0&sid=b0a3c735cf6fc716a4f344467432e022 emotional] issues in the beginning.
According to Babuji, the Founder of Sahaj Marg, children are not to be in the room during meditation. The suggested minimum age limit for beginning Sahaj Marg meditation is 18yrs old.
=== On other religions ===
'''On all religions'''- Sahaj Marg claims to "erase Samskaras" (imprint on the soul). The current Master, Chariji, (please see note below - Chari requests all to stop addressing him as "Master") stated that abhyasis were lucky. If they were in religion, he said, they would have to go to church and "you know", tell lies in that "wonderful place called the confessional". “Lord, forgive me for what I have done this week.” And there would be an equally sinful priest on the other side of the curtain saying, “In the name of the [[Jesus Christ|Lord Jesus Christ]] I absolve you of your sins.” Something that according to Chariji, he has no power to do. No man on earth has power, he states, to absolve you of your sins except two people: one, oneself, and the other, God. In between there is nobody who can do it, he stated. Then he added, that is why religion is useless, that is why religion has failed. That’s why, the Master (please see note below - Chari requests all to stop addessing him as Master) stated, the abhyasis are all there, not in church. (Speech, (Reverence, Respect & Restraint), Denmark, Nov. 2005, see references)
...and later:
Chariji stated that he was no Christ, ("you know"), to crucify himself on the cross for all of them. Did they think Christ was a wise man, he asked, that he (Christ) became crucified so that forever and ever after humanity would be absolved of its sins? "I don’t think so", he said. It gave people more license for indulgence. But after all, he said, they have been forgiven two thousand years ago for what they are going to do today, what their children were going to do ten years hence. He said that he did not think he (Christ) was wise. According to Chariji, he (Christ) left no room, no incentive for human beings to change, become moral, become spiritual. He said that they were all happy that they had a Christ who got crucified. He added that none of us weep for Christ and that we were happy. “God bless him,” we say, which is another blasphemy. He then said that the abhyasis need blessings, not Christ. (Speech, (Reverence, Respect & Restraint), Denmark, Nov. 2005, see references)
At a preceptors' seminar in January, 2001, Chariji stated:
"In the Indian scene, the Hindus and Hinduism is corrupt. God is personified as somebody who can be bribed with gifts, with so called prasads - offering temptation of Heaven which fact Babuji emphasized in His teachings, saying that religions depends on two instruments - temptation and fear."
"I am afraid that Sahaj Marg is suffering in this way because even when Christian people become abhyasis and preceptors, they somehow, somewhere along the way seem to lose this idea of love, charity, compassion, faith and become preceptors. So what Spirituality offers and can deliver, our priesthood, I would categorize you as, say temporarily as priesthood - they destroy." (Speech, Preceptor's Seminar, Jan. 2001-See references)
Written in the Sahaj Marg material: Abhyasi's question:"..... "Why do I have to give up my existing religious practices....."
Master's answer: "All religious practice involve the worship of God as being outside us. It is called Bahya Upachara in Sanskrit. Spirituality puts God where HE really is - inside the human heart, and indeed at the heart of every created thing, as [[Krishna|Lord Krishna]] says in the [[Bhagavad Gita]]. One cannot mix the two. In the [[Vedas]] Murthy Pooja is called the lowest form of worship. Mantra is only a way of pleasing the mind, and bhajans please the senses, while giving the illusion of being a form of worship. I trust that this will be satisfactory. If people have more questions, they should be encouraged to read the Gita slowly, and try to understand it. Love to all." (Sahaj Sandesh No.: 2005.31- See references) (please see note below - Chari requests all to stop addressing him as Master)
According to the teaching of this system, God is simple, and therefore, the way to reach Him must be simple. On the Nature of the Divine, when asked why in all the written material, God was referred to as "Him", Chariji replied: "God is Male, Nature is female." (SMRTI-Youth Services-Story Telling-See references)
Chariji has repeatedly asked people to stop calling him "Master" or referring to him as such.
In his "Heart to Heart - Vol. 1" by P. Rajagopalachari. (Pages 270-280 "Who is a Master?") 1st Edition 1988 - Published by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Pacific Grove, CA, USA.
"But somje people persist in addressing me as "Master". I have been annoyed by this practice myself..I have never claimed to be a Master.. It is unfortunate that some people ..are addressing me by that term."
"So in fact, the purpose of my talk is to request all of you to stop addressing me as Master."
In spite of this, many of Chariji's followers seem to persist in disobeying his requests.
=== On chosing a master ===
On '''choosing a guru''', Chariji in his book: ''Heart of the Lion'', states:
"...while there are innumerable gurus, the real guru is none but God himself. It is the duty of each guru to lead his disciple to the next higher one when his own work with the disciple is finished. No guru should hold his disciples to himself possessively. A guru is for service to others and not for building up possessions, power and prestige for himself ."
(Taken from My Master, p. 28, chapter "Tolerance" - Chariji)
"....So I repeat, the Guru is the only friend. In fact, I have said this so often, that in the Sufi philosophy, the Guru is called Friend. "The Friend is coming". Because he is the only fellow who can give his life for you. He is the only fellow, therefore, to whom you must hand over totally, a Power of Attorney....."Do with me as you think I deserve to be done with. Kick me when I have to be kicked. Beat me when I have to be beaten. Curse me when I have to be cursed. But make of me what you think I should be eventually, because only you can do it."
"So once more I say this in all humility....if you must have a Master, find a fellow who is capable of, you know, throwing you around, beating you up, cutting you to pieces. Remember Parushurama's father and the stern test that young boy had to make for obedience...."Kill your Mother". "Yes"..."
"He pulled out the sword and cut off her head. He said, "I am pleased with you my son. Ask for anything you want." He said, "I want my mother alive." And He said, "So be it." and she got up and walked off. The Guru is the Master, when you say of destiny, it means life and death. He must be the Master of your life as he must be the Master of your death." (From Heart of the Lion, Shri Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari-see references)
Chari has repeatedly asked people to stop calling him "Master" or referring to him as such.
In his "Heart to Heart - Vol.l" by P. Rajagopalachari. (Pages 270-280 "Who is a Master?") 1st Edition 1988 - Published by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Pacific Grove, CA, USA.
"But some people persist in addressing me as "Master". I have been annoyed by this practice myself..I have never claimed to be a Master..It is unfortunate that some people ..are addressing me by that term.So in fact, the purpose of my talk is to request all of you to stop addressing me as Master."
=== On freedom ===
On '''freedom''', in Salient Points of Sahaj Marg, it states that with Sahaj Marg, abhyasis have voluntarily, whole-heartedly and devotedly surrendered it to the Master of their Soul. To those who are fortunate enough to arrive at this stage, the Master is apparently no longer a guide for spirituality alone. He has now become the Master of the abhyasis' life in all it's aspects of existence. He apparently has become the father, the mother, the son, the teacher, the doctor, in fact, there is no role that He does not play in the abhyasi's life. He has taken total charge of the abhyasi. It further states that only the surrendering to Him can bring about a state where He can take total charge of the abhyasis!
(From Salient Features of Sahaj Marg - Series 2- Page 26 See references)
=== On homosexuality ===
On '''homosexuality''', the Master (please see referenced note - Chari requests all to stop addressing him as Master)of this system in a recent speech said that unlike the churches of the world, Sahaj Marg does not perform same-sex marriages. "That is unnatural", he said. God did not intend it to be thus, he added. He then said it was a personal comment. But there are things credited to Babuji Maharaj “If God did not want two sexes, he could have as well created one and seen that the world propagated by itself."...Why two sexes? he questioned. Apparently not so that one sex should marry among themselves, according to Sahaj Marg Masters. "So, what the church may allow, I don’t have to condone or accept", he said, not mentionning what churches condones or performs same-sex marriages. "To me", Chariji said, "it is a very blatant misuse of so-called privileges of the human being, fundamental rights, et cetera. Of course, if you claim it is your fundamental right to go the dogs, so be it! Even God cannot stop it.
[http://www.srcm.org/literature/recent.speeches/060120_Malaysia.jsp Speech by Chariji "Balance-The Crux of Life" Jan 20, 2006 in Malaysia]
Some claim it is a fact (unsubstantiated) that there are followers, both abhyasis and preceptors who are homosexual. {{Fact|date=February 2007}}
There are other claims that gay families have been broken up or have left. (see testimonial on discussion page) {{Fact|date=February 2007}}
=== On philosophy ===
On the '''philosophy''' of Sahaj Marg, in a speech on New Year's Day, 2005
at Babuji Memorial Ashram, Manapakkam, India, according to Chariji, there is no room for philosophy in speeches of Sahaj Marg. In fact, he stated, "Sahaj Marg has no philosophy. It does not rest on any philosophy. It is neither advaita nor dvaita nor vishishta advaita." (From Speech by Shri Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari -Jan 1, 2005 at Babuji Memorial Ashram, Manapakkam, India- see references)
On the other hand, the founder of the Shri Ram Chandra Mision, Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur, affectionately known as "Babuji", wrote the book: "SAHAJ MARG PHILOSOPHY", first published by the Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Shahjahanpur, in 1969.
=== Be like lions ===
'''Be like lions:''' Sahaj Marg wants the abhyasis to be like lions:
The abhyasi is asked to look within. Look to the Heart. Build your heart, they are told. Make it brave, make it strong, make it courageous. They are asked to be lions, as Babuji wanted, he exhorts. He said: "One lion is worth more that five hundred sheep." It is not that we do not accept sheep but we accept sheep who are willing to become lions, not sheep who want to stay on as sheep.......And what was but a shepherd's pen has now become the jungle in which the lions roam freely. This is what Sahaj Marg is setting out to achieve, according to Babuji.
".....He wanted our hearts to be like lions - brave, courageous, capable of discrimination, able to give up everything for the sake of the Master."
(From Salient Points of Sahaj Marg, Series 2-Page 21 see references)
=== On idolatry ===
On '''idolatry''', the Sahaj Marg material states:
"Sahaj Marg has nowhere said temple worship is wrong, nor does Master expressly forbid idol worship" ....To abhyasis, the preceptor, apparently, becomes such an idol. The author states: "I believe that any abhyasi who says, "my preceptor" when talking about the preceptor who is serving him has fallen into this form of idol worship." It appears that there is concern that the preceptor can be transformed into an idol, or idolised. The author follows: "Here again the Master may be in the background, but is that Master's rightful place?"
"So Master's message is quite clear. All credit goes to our Master. When we give credit where it is not due, that too is a form of idol worship. We should beware of falling into such errors......."
("Salient Features of Sahaj Marg" (SMRI Series 3) Page 52-53 see references)
=== On donations ===
On '''donations''', the abhyasis is to think that it is their Mission, it is their Master, it is His plant, therefore, it is theirs, then, apparently, there is no sacrifice, there is no giving. The abhyasis are only watering their own plant. Who should they credit for it, is the question asked by the Master.
To think that the Master depends on the abhyasis' donation could very possibly be a sin, according to the Master. Masters exist in a dimension where money does not play a part. Whenever the Master makes the abhyasis donate something, he apparently does so as to lighten their burdens. Their contribution to the Master's work is apparently of the same proportion as the squirrel's contribution to Lord Rama's work.
(from Salient Points of Sahaj Marg Series 3- Page 25 See references)
According to SRCM Shahjahanpur, registered in India, this statement about donations is not part of the original teachings of Sahaj Marg and does not exist in the original tenets or philosophy of Sahaj Marg, nor can it be considered to be in any way in the spirit of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission, or of its founder Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur (affectionately known as Babuji), nor that of his Master, Shri Ram Chandra of Fategarh (Lalaji).
See references-Books by Shri Ram Chandra (Babuji) including: "Some Important Features of Sahaj Marg", "The Efficacy of Raja Yoga in the Light of Sahaj Marg", "Towards Infinity", "Reality at Dawn" etc. All published by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, U.P., India.
See also: "Truth Eternal" - the original writings of Samarth Guru Shri Ram Chandra Maharaj of Fategarh, U.P. First edition published 1973 by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, U.P., India.
=== On democracy ===
On '''democracy''', the current Master, Chariji stated that until there are no walls, one cannot say, "We're a free people," because, according to Chariji, we are only selecting the people we will accept. According to him, democracy is like a club, a select club, a rich man's club, a club of power. According to Chariji, because any organisation, including a democracy, has the power of accepting or rejecting, we can't say it is a free organisation? "Yes or no?" he asked. "No", he replied.
Chariji claimed that Sahaj Marg has no such restriction. Everybody, from anywhere in the world is welcome. According to Chariji, everybody can come, everybody can go. Apparently, there are no restrictions. There are no fees. There are no restriction of education. "Is it a free organisation?", he asked. "Is it human? Is it the real democracy of a free people, for a free people, by a free people? Yes or no?" (Audience: "Yes.")"
Then Chari stated: "So Sahaj Marg is today, in my opinion, the only organisation in this world fulfilling the requirements of this definition of "Liberté, egalité, fraternité" [Freedom, equality, fraternity]. Vive le Sahaj Marg! [Long live Sahaj Marg!] (applause)."
(from Shri P. Rajagopalachari at Cossonay, Switzerland on July 13, 2003-see references)
==Masters and leadership==
According to Sahaj Marg material, there have been three [[guru]]s, or Masters, each of whom is believed to have passed on his spiritual condition and teachings to his most capable disciple.
The first guru of the Sahaj Marg lineage was [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/lalaji.html Shri Ram Chandraji] of Fategargh, affectionately known as [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/lalaji.html Lalaji] who was a Master of the Naqashbandi order of Sufism but who according to non-Sufi followers, became God realized after only 7 months of meditadion and created the "heart to heart" transmission. According to Naqsh MuMRa i.e. Naqshbandia Mujaddidia Mazaharia Ramchandria, Lalaji's Master was Maulana Fazl Ahmad Khan (Hujur Maharaj), sixth from Mirza Zanzana, and thirty-sixth in the line of succession of the Naqshbandi Order. Naqsh Mumra refers to a stream of the great Naqshbandi Sufi Silsila (Order). It is an Indian-Sufi branch. Before dying, Lalaji's spiritual competence was tested by his Master in a meditation with a multi-denominational panel. The panel agreed that Lalaji was a "perfect copy" of his Master. Lalaji, the first "giaour" or "non Muslim" of the Naqshbandia Order, lived from 1873 to 1931.
His successor (debated..see [http://www.yogabhyas.org/default.htm Yogabhyas] site) was [[Shri Ram Chandra Ji]] of [[Shahjahanpur]], who lived from 1899 to 1983 and was affectionately known as [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/babuji.html Babuji]. Babuji claims to have received his successorship from Lalaji in a dream. On the Sufi lineage or Naqsh MuMRa i.e. Naqshbandia Mujaddidia Mazaharia Ramchandria which refers to a stream of the great Naqshbandi Sufi Silsila (Order), Mahatma Ram Chandraji apparently blessed Thakur Ram Singhji to be a ‘Fanafil-Murid’ i.e. ‘a disciple with whom his Master has merged’ and that his fame would spread like the smell of roses.
The succession of the current guru, [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/chariji.html Chariji], has been debated by the sons of the late [http://www.sriramchandra.org/body.asp?file=master Dr.Varadachari], professor of Philosophy even though the former Guru [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/babuji.html Babuji], wrote an allegedly authenticated letter in which he stated the desire that Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari be his successor. Babuji gave three copies of the same letter stating his desire for Chariji to be his successor to Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari, Kasturi and a western associate.
Shri KC Narayana of the break-away ISRC (Institute for Ram Chandra Institute), who was a member of the Working committee of SRCM in 1974 does not dispute the Presidency of SRCM but claims that the words "spiritual representative" are not in the document. ISRC claims Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur as their Master.
Followers of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission (registered in California), consider Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari as their current guide. The Shri Ram Chandra Mission (registered in India), consider their Master and guide to be Babuji, and claim that the president of the Mission was Umesh Saxena, Babuji's son unitl his death. The presidency allegedly has passed to his son, and grandson of the Founder, Navneet Kumar.
Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari, the current living guru according to SRCM (California), was born in 1927, [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/chariji.html Shri Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari], a chemical engineer who in 1955, joined the T. T. Krishnamachari group of companies, thereafter rising to the position of Executive Director of the Indian Textile Paper Tube Company. He is affectionately known as [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/chariji.html Chariji]. He has announced Mr. Ajay Kumar Bhatter as his successor.
According to Babuji's family (Umesh Saxena and Navneet Kumar) and the SRCM registered in India in 1946, following the death of Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur (affectionately known as Babuji), founder of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission and the originator of Sahaj Marg, the Working Committee, Centre-in-Charge/Preceptors/Organizers of Shri Ram Chandra Mission in India and Abroad sent out a Circular, dated 15th February, 1984, naming Shri Umesh Chandra Saxena (Babuji's son)as Successor/President. This followed the Meetings of the Working Committee of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission (India) on 6/7th February, 1984, at Shahjahanpur, and the Meeting of the General Body (comprising 982 members present) of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission on 8th February, 1984.
[http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/facts.html (See] Circular, Working Committee, Centre-in-Charge/Preceptors/Organisers of Shri Ram Chandra Mission in India & Abroad, dated 15th February, 1984); Minutes of the Working Committee, 6/7th February, 1984, at Shahjahanpur, U.P., India.; Minutes of General Body Meeting (982 present), 8th February, 1984, Shahjahanpur, U.P., India.)
==Activities==
There are a range of activities:
*[http://www.spiritualityfoundation.org/welcome/smsf.html Sahaj Marg Spirituality Foundation]is a nonprofit association organized pursuant to the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act. Among other things, it funds scholarships for people wishing to visit India to [http://sahajmarg.org/welcome/crest/CREST_Inaugural_circular.pdf study spirituality], providing those without means with air ticket, shelter and food in one of the training centers specifically set up for this purpose. These are residential courses that claim to follow the ancient Indian "gurukula" system of education involving a spartan setting.
*Every year on July 24, SRCM organizes a gathering in the form of the Master's birthday celebration. This event lasts for three-days. The centerpiece of the gathering are the twice-daily satsanghs or group meditations. Other events include songs, dances and other cultural presentations from adult abhyasis and their children from the many regions where the Mission has a presence. These are usually done in the presence of the Master. Some come from far away to attend the festivities. Temporary living facilities are provided on site for thousands of visiting abhyasis at such events. Every year, a new town is selected and everyone is invited to attend. Because the Masters of Sahaj Marg have discussed at length, the significance of Mission gatherings to the abhyasis spiritual growth, all abhyasis are strongly encouraged by their peers and preceptors to attend. Similar gatherings are held for Lalaji and Babuji's birth anniversaries.
*There is no lodging and boarding charged for [http://www.srcm.org/members/forms/guidelines.pdf stays] at any ashram. While there is always a suggested donation while registering for Mission gatherings, it is possible for anyone to [http://www.srcm.org/registration/index.jsp register] for any event without donating anything. Those who wish to visit any ashram or attend a Mission event may carry their own bedding. However, if abhyasis so wish, they can [http://www.srcm.org/centers/bma/visiting/manapakkamtips.html purchase or rent bedding] for a daily fee and a refundable deposit at the ashram or the gathering site.
*[http://www.omegaschools.org/news_inauguration.htm Lalaji Memorial Omega School], managed by the Baal Vatika Educational Society, with Shri Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari as executive trustee. The Baal Vatika Educational Society accepts and manages funds for the School, which is located in Chennai, India and operates as a private school.
*Shri Ram Chandra Mission is part of the [[Ngo|NGO]] network and is listed as a non-governmental non-profit organization that works in support of the public good and fulfills the principles outlined in the United Nations.
*Value-Based Spiritual Education course materials have been developed.
*[http://sahajmarg.org/smrti/rc/studygrp/index.html Study groups], seminars for practitioners and the youth, school curriculum K-12 etc.
*The Mission participates in the relief activities during selected times of natural calamities by either collecting money and routing it through the Prime Minister's Relief fund or through other organizations involved in the operations.
*In some Ashrams there is also [http://www.srcm.org/members/forms/guidelines.pdf free medical assistance] provided to abhyasis.
*Donations also fund scholarships that allow practitioners who can't afford to travel to India, to spend some time in one of the [http://sahajmarg.org/smrti/scholarship/index.html ashrams].
*Donations are also used to purchase land and property for ashram.
*Donations are also used for travel and lodging of Master and people surrounding Master as and when they visit various locations.
Other modes of raising money is by sale of Mission books and CDs to members. Some titles include:
* "SOME IMPORTANT FEATURES OF SAHAJ MARG" by Shri Ram Chandra, published 1981 by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Shahjahanpur, U.P.)
* "The Efficacy of Raja Yoga in the Light of Sahaj Marg", "Towards Infinity", "Reality at Dawn" etc. All by Shri Ram Chandra and published by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, U.P., India.
* "Truth Eternal" - the original writings of Samarth Guru Shri Ram Chandra Maharaj of Fategarh, U.P. First edition published 1973 by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, U.P., India.
==Publications==
===Whispers from the ''Brighter World'===
This book of messages (over 600 messages) from the [[Sahaj Marg Philosophy#The Brighter World|''Brighter World'']], from the now-deceased Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur, (Babuji-1899-1983) and other departed spirits of "highly evolved" souls, according to [http://www.sahajmarg.org/sm/viewWhisperArchive.do?method=list SMRTI] is channelled by an un-named lady medium according to Chariji in his [http://www.sahajmarg.org/subscriptions/whispers/invitation.html "invitation"]. The book was published in limited quantities in 2005 by the [http://www.sahajmarg.org/sm/viewWhisperArchive.do?method=list Sahaj Marg Spirituality Foundation] and it is presented to those abhyasis who have voluntarily donated $250.00 US to the Shri Ram Chandra Mission. The text is being released free-of-charge in [[PDF]] format, one message per day, at [http://www.sahajmarg.org/sm/viewWhisperArchive.do?method=list www.sahajmarg.com].
===Other publications===
* [http://www.srcm.org/bookstore/catalog.jsp Complete Bibliography]
*'''Quarterly Periodicals'''
* Constant Remembrance - in English
* Sahaj Deepam - [[Kannada]]
* Sahaj Deepam - [[Malayalam]]
* Sahaj Deepam - [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
* Sahaj Margamu - [[Telugu language|Telugu]]
* Sahaj Shishu - [[Hindi]]
== References ==
Books:
* Spider's Web (volume 1)
* Salient Features of Sahaj Marg (SMRI Series 3)
* The Efficacy of Sahaj Marg
* My Master by Shri Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari
* Speech by Shri Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari (Chariji)
* "Some Important Features of SAHAJ MARG" by Shri Ram Chandra, published 1981 by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Shahjahanpur, U.P.
[http://www.srcm.org/literature/recent.speeches/051101_Denmark.jsp (Reverence, Respect and Restraint)] at the Seminar in Vrads Sande Castle, Denmark, Nov.1, 2005.
* Benedictory Speech (Become Acceptable) by Shri Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari, at Preceptors Seminar, at Babuji Memorial Ashram, Manapakkam, Chennai, India, Jan. 2001
* [http://www.sahajmarg.org/youth/story92.html Questions asked by children to Chariji about God], SMRTI, Youth Services-Story Telling
* Heart of the Lion, Shri Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari, Quote on P-14 (1993), 190 pages.
* Salient Features of Sahaj Marg - Series 2-Be like Lions P 21, Freedom-26
* [http://www.srcm.org/literature/recent.speeches/050101_Manapakkam.jsp Speech by Shri Rajagopalachari, Jan. 1, 2005 at Babuji Memorial Ashram, Manapakkam, INDIA,]
* Salient Features of Sahaj Marg" (SMRI Series 3) Donations- P 25, On Idolatry-Page 52-53
* [http://www.srcm.org/literature/recent.speeches/030713_Swiss.jsp Speech (Freedom) by Shri P. Rajagopalachari at Cossonay, Switzerland on July 13, 2003-Speech on Demnocracy]
* [http://www.ramakrishnavivekananda.info/vivekananda/volume_1/vol_1_frame.htm The Complete Works of Vivekananda] (see Raja Yoga-First Steps-Yama)
* [http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/facts.html Circular, Working Committee,] Centre-in-Charge/Preceptors/Organisers of Shri Ram Chandra Mission in India & Abroad, dated 15th February, 1984); Minutes of the Working Committee, 6/7th February, 1984, at Shahjahanpur, U.P., India.); Minutes of General Body Meeting] (982 present), 8th February, 1984, Shahjahanpur, U.P., India.)
*"Some Important Features of Sahaj Marg", Second Edition 1981, Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Shahjahanpur.
==See also==
*[[Shri Ram Chandra Mission]]
*[[Sahaja]]
*[[Sahaja Yoga]]
*[[List_of_groups_referred_to_as_cults_in_government_reports#France ]]
*[[Mind_control]]
==Warnings about SRCM by European Government and Cult Watch groups==
[http://www.miviludes.org/IMG/pdf/Report_MIVILUDES_2003.pdf Report Submitted to Prime Minister of France] Refer to page 81, of the document. Also footnote 24 and 25
[http://www.cftf.com/french/Les_Sectes_en_France/cults.html French NATIONAL ASSEMBLY Report](Ref: Cult movement's with 2000 to 10000 followers)
[http://www.anti-scientologie.ch/liens-bookmarks.htm Warning by Europe Cult watch group]
[http://www.prevensectes.com/shriram.htm Prevent Sect group warning]
[http://www.unadfi.com/spip.php?article340 UNADFI comments on SRCM and similar groups]
[http://www.icsahome.com International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)] Search for Ram Chandra Mission Chari group
==External links==
*[http://www.srcm.org Shri Ram Chandra Mission] (California-Registered)
*[http://www.sahajmarg.org Sahaj Marg Spirituality Foundation ][http://www.arb-forum.com/domains/decisions/94237.htm See domain dispute here]
*[http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/default.html Shri Ram Chandra Mission Shahjahanpur] (India-Registered)
'''Websites of associations with similar or same lineage as Shri Ram Chandra Mission:'''
* [http://www.sriramchandra.org/ Insitute for Ram Chandra Consciousness (ISRC)]
* [http://www.yogabhyas.org/default.htm Yogabhyas]
* [http://www.ramashram.com/ Ramashram- Guru Maharaj, Dr. Chaturbhuj Sahay Ji]
* [http://www.geocities.com/sufisaints/ Sufism in India and Naqsh MuMRa by Dr. RK Gupta]
* [http://naqshmumraif.googlepages.com/chiraggohil "Laalaaji Nilayam" Golden Chain (Lalaji's Family]
* [http://laalaajinilayam.googlepages.com/vasihatnaama Parampujya Laalaaji’s Vasihatnaama Lalaji's Will]
* [http://www.abssatsang.org/founder.htm ABS Satsang]
'''Warnings and Information about Cults '''
*[http://www.factnet.org/rancho1.htm Discription of Cult groups]
*[http://www.cultinformation.org.uk/home.html Cult Information Center]
*[http://www.freedomofmind.com/ Freedom of Mind Steve Hassan]
*[http://www.infocult.org/ Canadian Site About Information on Cults]
*[http://www.caic.org.au/ Cult Awareness and Information Centre]
Blogs and Discussions of dissociated, questioning and/or ex-abhyasis:
* [http://innercircleofsrcm.blogspot.com/ Inner Circle of SRCM-USA]
* [http://spydi.blogspot.com/ Spiritual Discussion] (replaces Christian's "Poxy SRCM")
* [http://membres.lycos.fr/mielk/english.html Mielk - A French Analysis- France-Fr. & Eng.]
* [http://pourquevivelesahajmarg.blogspot.com/ The Desperate Abhyasi-France-Fr. & Eng.]
* [http://www.geocities.com/sha211_211/srcm.html Freedom to Speak Power to Speak]
*[http://www.hindu-forum.org/printview.php?t=584&start=0&sid=b0a3c735cf6fc716a4f344467432e022 Discussion on Hindu-Forum by an abhyasi who practiced for two days]
* [http://www2.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=38502554&postID=116799486675384209 Discussion by abhyasi who practised this method for 14 yrs ]
Shri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM) From the deleted Wiki Pages
This is what SRCM (Chennai) does not want you to see!!
This is from the Shri Ram Chandra Mission on Wikipedia of June 5, 2007
(see Wiki page "history"- see Archives of discussion page for editor banter)
'''Shri Ram Chandra Mission''' is a [[new religious movement]] which was founded in 1945 at Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India by '''Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur''' (known as Babuji). It teaches a form of mediation called [[Sahaj Marg]] ("The Natural Path").
There are two factions claiming ownership of the SRCM, one is headed by Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari, also known as Chariji, (SRCMtm registerd in California, USA in 1997) with their headquarters at Manapakkam, Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India. Also in the disputed control of SRCMtm faction, is the Sahaj Marg Research and Teaching Institute (SMRTI), and the Sahaj Marg Spirituality Foundation (SMSF), registered in Austin, Texas (USA). This faction also operates a private boarding school in Chennai, India: the Lalaji Memorial Omega (International) School [[http://www.omegaschools.org/news_inauguration.htm] under the management of the Lalaji Memorial Educational Society.
The SRCMtm (California) claims more than 1500 centres in India and abroad, with a presence on every continent and in over 80 countries. They claim over 200,000 adherents. [http://www.srcm.org/centers/index.html].
The SRCMtm, (California) is listed as part of the [[NGO]] network and as a non-government, non-profit organization. It claims that it works in support of the public good and fulfills some of the principles outlined by the United Nations DPI Program. {{fact|date=June 3, 2007}}
The other faction, SRCM Shahjahanpur is registered in India by Shri Ram Chandra (Babuji) of Shahjahanpur (1945). This faction is represented by some members of the family of the founder. (see Dispute over the SRCM below)
Shri Ram Chandra Mission has been listed as a [[cult]] in government reports. [http://www.miviludes.org/IMG/pdf/Report_MIVILUDES_2003.pdf] [http://www.antisectes.net/us-report-fr2000-eng.htm] [http://www.ciaosn.be/biblior.htm].
==Lineage of Shri Ram Chandra Mission==
Babuji claimed Lalaji as his guru after having met him a few times only, based on one of his dreams, which occurred thirteen (13) years after Lalaji's death. Babuji claimed that Lalaji transmitted his succession to him during that dream. After this dream transmission, he founded the '''Shri Ram Chandra Mission'''. This group still claims a lineage originating from Lalaji. There are many other legal and verifiable lineages to Lalaji in existence. (see lineage below)
After the founder's death in 1983 one of the founder's disciples (Chari) claimed to have a letter of succession from Babuji. As the letter was not accepted by the Working Committee of SRCM Shahjahanpur, [http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/facts.html]Chari formed a new group called SRCMtm and registered it in California, USA in 1997. [http://www.srcm.org/members/privacypolicy.jsp] The legality of Chari's claim however is pending in Supreme Court of India. [http://courtnic.nic.in/supremecourt/temp/ac661900p.txt]
Hence there are currently two factions claiming ownership of the SRCM. The first one is based in [http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/default.html Shahjahanpur], and was initially presided by the founder, Babuji, then by the founders son, Shree Umesh Saxena, and after his untimely death, by the founder's grandson (and son of Umesh Saxena), Shri Navneet Kumar. This faction claims that there is no [[guru]] other than Babuji himself. The other group, SRCMtm registered in California, claims that Chari is the one who was chosen by Babuji as his spiritual and legal successor.
===Lalaji's Naqshbandi Sufi Lineage (from Islam)===
"The Naqshbandiyya Sufi has spread to every nook and corner of India and also abroad through the efforts of Mahatma Ram Chandraji and his disciples, especially Mahatma Chaturbhuj Sahayji and Mahatma Ram Chandraji of Sahajahanpur (founder of Shri Ram Chandra Mission) and his disciple Shri Rajagopalachari. It was said by Maulvi Ahmad Ali Khan (the spiritual Master of Hujur Maharaj) that his Master (Shaikh Abul Hasan) had told him, 'A Hindu boy will come to you, who will spread this spiritual practice amongst many'. This Hindu boy is believed by some to have been Mahatma Ram Chandraji, who succeeded Hujur Maharaj in the Naqshbandiyya Order of Sufism". Dr. RK Gupta (Naqsh MuMRa) i.e. Naqshbandia Mujaddidia Mazaharia Ramchandria) refers to a stream of the great Naqshbandiyya Sufi Silsila (Order). It is an Indian-Sufi branch. Its genealogy is known as [http://naqshmumraif.googlepages.com/chiraggohil ‘Shizra Sharif’]. Mahatma Shri Ram Chandraji Maharaj of Fatehgarh, UP is the 36th in this lineage and the first non-muslim Sufi saint of the Naqshbandiyya Order (see [http://naqshmumraif.googlepages.com/chiraggohil "Golden Delicious Chain"] of Naqshbandiyya MuMRa Order. (Dr. RK Gupta - see references from many books)
Some (non-sufi) followers of SRCMtm assert that Lalaji became God realized after seven months of meditation,[http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Sahaj_Marg/id/51257] and that he rediscovered the system of "heart to heart transmission" used in ancient times although according to RK Gupta (see references and Naqsh Mumra Web site), "heart to heart" transmission was never lost in the Naqshbandiyya Sufi tradition of Lalaji's Master, and did not have to be rediscovered.
Pujya Lalaji had a brother Raghubar Dayal Ji, also called Chachcha Ji (N°37 of the lineage), and a son Jagmohan Narain (N°38) and 2 grandsons: Akhilesh KUMAR Ji (N°39) and Dinesh KUMAR Saxena (current N°40).
On the other hand, Chachcha Ji, brother of Lalaji, had 3 offsprings: Brijmohan Lal also called Dadda Ji, Radha Mohan Lal and Jyotendra Mohan Lal. Brijmohan Lal (Dadda Ji) had several pupils of which Yashpal Ji also called Bhai Sahab Ji, founder of movement ABSS “Akhil Bhartiya Santmat Satsang” (see www.abssatsang.org). Radha Mohan Lal Ji had as disciple, Dr. Chandra Gupta. If one adds to that the Ramashram Satsang resulting from the disciples of Lalaji, with personalities like Dr. Chaturbhuj Sahai of Mathura and/or Thakur Ram Singhji of Jaipur, Dr Srikrishn Lal of Bulandshahar could all be in their lineage to their Master, Lalaji, the 36th of the Sufi Order and his Master Hujur Mahara). (Dinesh Kumar Saxena "Laalaaji Nilayam") (see References and citations below)
===Shri Ram Chandra of Fatehgarh (Lalaji)===
Lalaji's father [[chowdhury|Chaudhari]] Harbaksh Rai was one of the descendants of a highly respected Kayasth family of District Mainpuri. Emperor Akbar had gifted Babu Vrindavan, one of the renowned ancestors of this family, with the title [[Chowdhury|"Chaudhari"]]. (Paraphrased from Naqsh MuMRa-Dr.RK Gupta)
"Lalaji, as he was popularly called, belonged to a distinguished family of [[Jagir]]dars. Akbar, the great Moghul emperor, being a great statesman, befriended Hindus, made rapprochement with many and rewarded the brave. Sri Brindaban Babu, the great-grand father of Sri Lalaji Saheb, was a person of rare genius and his fine qualities and noble attainments won for him from Akbar, unstinted praise and friendship, the title of [[Chowdhury|Chaudhari]] and a [[jagir]] comprising of 555 villages. He took up his permanent residence in the town of Bhoomigram, which later came to be called Bhogaon, in the present district of Mainpuri." (Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur-see references)
"His family lived there till after the mutiny of 1857 when general arson, anarchy and looting prevailed in the name of freedom in the district rendering Bhomigram uninhabitable. Sri Harbux Rai, the worthy father of the Adi-Guru, migrated to Fatehgarh in the district of Farrukhabad. Here, he joined his assignment as Tax Superintendent and began to live with his family. Unfortunately, he had no son at the time and had adopted his nephew. Though his state had been subjected to considerable damage as a result of the post-mutiny disturbances and his property had been plundered, he had enough assets to live by in the manner of an old and rich aristocrat. But the transitional period could not suit him and his status continued to deteriorate. Yet, there were servants and maid servants, a respectable house equipped with necessary paraphernalia, conveyances, etc." (Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur-see references)
In an article published by the SRCM(tm), Dr. KS Balasubramianiam stated: "He (Lalaji) is rightly called as the first guru of the Sahaj Marg system and it is in his name that Shri Ram Chandra Mission was established in 1945 A.D., by his dearest disciple and successor, who also bore the same name (i.e. Shri Ram Chandraji)." (Dr. KS Balasubramaniam see references below)
===Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur (Babuji)===
"Babuji was born on April 30, 1899 in [[Shahjahanpur]], a large town in the northern state of [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]]. He belonged to the family of "Bugaras", "Diwans". One of Babuji's forefathers was Chief of the Army Staff in Akbar's Army and got the title of "Bugara" from Akbar. One of Babuji's forefathers was Shri Kundal Lal Bakshi, who died as a valiant warrior in the famous "Battle of Buxar". According to The "Autobiography of Ram Chandra", (Published by SRCM, Shahjahanpur-see References): "My father was Rai Bahadur Sri Badri Prasad, Honorary Special Magistrate I Class." "Rai Bahadur" was a coveted Title given to respected Indians by the English during their Regime. Babuji was not named "Madhe Mohan Lal" as commented by Thomas Dahnhardt, University researcher, Oxford University. Babuji's father Rai Bahadur Badri Prasadji named him "Ram Chandra".
His father was a lawyer and noted scholar who educated his son extensively in English, Urdu and Persian, perhaps hoping that he would follow in his father’s footsteps. But from an early age, Ram Chandra's craving for spiritual realisation over-shadowed all other interests." (SMRTI-see references) He came to be known as "Babuji" as in the Shahjahanpur area all great and respected people are called "Babuji".
"He became a court clerk. He held that position in the Shahjahanpur district court for more than thirty years. He was married at the age of nineteen and his wife. Bhagwati, bore him two daughters and four sons before her death in 1949." (SMRTI-see references)
"On June 3, 1922, Babuji first met his Master, Lalaji, a man with the same name as himself (this statement is debated by Thomas Dahnhardt-see above and references), who lived in the town of [[Fatehgarh]] not far from [[Shahjahanpur]]. Lalaji apparently recognized Babuji as the man who had appeared to him in a dream years before, the one who was destined to succeed him as the leader of a great spiritual renaissance. Though teacher and disciple met only a few times before Lalaji's death in 1931, the thought of his Master remained constant in Babuji’s mind and heart from their first meeting until he passed away in April 1983 at the age of 83." (SMRTI-see references)
According to Lalaji's will, displayed on [http://laalaajinilayam.googlepages.com/laalaajiat-a-glance Laalaaji Nilayam], Lalaji's successor was to be his son: Jagmohan Narain (see references)
"It was on 14th August 1931 that his Guru entered Maha Samadhi and on 15th he felt that his Guru had transmitted him everything of His. It was a state of complete mergence of His Guru into him. On October 12th of 1932 he received further transmission from His deceased Master which he was not able to bear fully and he was overfilled with Divine Energy. It was by the grace of His Guru that later in 1944 he was blessed with the vision of the light that, apparently, Moses saw and also Shri Krishna's Viratsvarupa." (SMRTI-see References)
=== Shri Umesh Chandra Saxena / Shri Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari ===
According to followers of Mr. Chari and his SRCMtm registered in California, the current Master and President of Shri Ram Chandra Mission, is Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari (Chari).
"Shri Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari was born on [[July 24]], [[1927]], in the village of Vayalur near [[Chennai]] ([[Madras]]), in the south of India. Known to his family and close friends as Parthasarathi, he is affectionately called Chari, or Chariji, by his associates".{{Fact|date=February 2007}}
Chari joined the T. T. Krishnamachari group of companies in 1955, thereafter rising to the position of Executive Director of the Indian Textile Paper Tube Company, when he retired. He now dedicates his full time to the SRCMtm Mission, registered in California.
Chari has repeatedly stated (notably in his recorded speeches in U.K. & Europe) that he is not a "Master", and has requested that people stop calling him so and/or referring to him as such.
"But some people persist in addressing me as "Master". I have been annoyed by this practice myself....I have never claimed to be a Master.....It is unfortunate that some people....are addressing me by that same term.... So in fact, the purpose of my talk is to request all of you to stop addressing me as Master."
See references: particularly recorded speeches of Parthasarathi Rajagoplachari at Seminars in U.K. & Europe, mid-late 1980s.
See "Heart to Heart - Vol.l" by P. Rajagolachari. Chapter "Who is a Master?" (Pages 270-280). First Edition 1988 - Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Pacific Grove, CA, USA.
His followers apparently persist in disobeying his requests, as the official on-line sites of [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/masters-index.html SRCMtm] and [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/masters-index.html SMRTI] show Chariji as the Master of SRCM, along with Lalaji and Babuji.
Accoding the family of the founder, Babuji, and their supporters in the SRCM Shahajanpur, registered in India on the 21st July 1945, following the death the Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur, the originator of Sahaj Marg, the Working Committee, Centre-in-Charge/Preceptors/Organisers of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission in India and Abroad, on 15th April 1984 sent out a Circular confirming Shri Umesh Chandra Saxena, Babuji's son, as Successor/President of the Mission. (See references[http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/facts.html
==Masters and leadership==
According to the Sahaj Marg material of the California-based Chari group, there have been three [[guru]]s, or Masters, each of whom is believed to have passed on his spiritual condition and teachings to his most capable disciple.
The first guru of the Sahaj Marg lineage, according to the site of the SRCMtm faction, registered in California, was [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/lalaji.html Shri Ram Chandraji] of Fatehgarh, affectionately known as [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/lalaji.html Lalaji] who was a Master of the Naqashbandi order of Sufism but who according to non-Sufi followers, became God realized after only 7 months [http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Sahaj_Marg/id/51257] of meditadion, to have had no Master, and created the "heart to heart" transmission now claimed as unique to Sahaj Marg. [http://www.srcm.org/literature/articles/basics.jsp] See References: A Sahaj Marg Companion)[http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Sahaj_Marg/id/51257]
According to Naqsh MuMRa i.e. Naqshbandia Mujaddidia Mazaharia Ramchandria, Lalaji's Master was Maulana Fazl Ahmad Khan (Hujur Maharaj), sixth from Mirza Zanzana, and thirty-sixth in the line of succession of the Naqshbandi Order. Naqsh Mumra refers to a stream of the great Naqshbandi Sufi Silsila (Order). It is an Indian-Sufi branch. Before dying, Lalaji's spiritual competence was tested by his Master in a meditation with a multi-denominational panel. The panel agreed that Lalaji was a "perfect copy" of his Master. Lalaji, the first "giaour" or "non Muslim" of the Naqshbandia Order, lived from 1873 to 1931. [http://www.geocities.com/sufisaints/] (see references: books by Dr. RK Gupta)
His (Lalaji's) successor (disputed see [http://www.yogabhyas.org/default.htm Yogabhyas] site) was [[Shri Ram Chandra Ji]] of [[Shahjahanpur]], who lived from 1899 to 1983 and was affectionately known as [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/babuji.html Babuji]. Babuji claims to have received his successorship from Lalaji in a dream. (see references: Autobiography of Ram Chandra) On the Sufi lineage or Naqsh MuMRa i.e. Naqshbandia Mujaddidia Mazaharia Ramchandria which refers to a stream of the great Naqshbandi Sufi Silsila (Order), Mahatma Ram Chandraji apparently also blessed Thakur Ram Singhji to be a ‘Fanafil-Murid’ i.e. ‘a disciple with whom his Master has merged’ and that his fame would spread like the smell of roses. [http://www.geocities.com/sufisaints/] (see references: books by Dr. RK Gupta)
Another group, ISRC [http://www.sriramchandra.org/body.asp?file=master] founded by Shri K.C Narayana son of the late Dr.Varadachari, professor of Philosophy and member of the Working Committee of the SRCM Shahjahanpur, also claims the lineage from Babuji calling him the eternal Master.
The Guru/founder, [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/babuji.html Babuji], wrote an allegedly authenticated letter, which is now disputed, and is now alleged to be a forgery, wherein was stated Babuji's desire that Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari (Chari) be his successor. Babuji apparently gave three copies of the same letter stating his desire for Chariji to be his successor to Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari (Chari, Sister Kasturi Chatervedi and an un-named western associate.[http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/facts.html]
According to Babuji's family (Umesh Saxena and Navneet Kumar) and the SRCM registered in India in 1946, following the death of Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur (affectionately known as Babuji), founder of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission and the originator of Sahaj Marg, the Working Committee, Centre-in-Charge/Preceptors/Organizers of Shri Ram Chandra Mission in India and Abroad sent out a Circular, dated 15th February, 1984, naming Shri Umesh Chandra Saxena (Babuji's son)as Successor/President. This followed the Meetings of the Working Committee of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission (India) on 6/7th February, 1984, at Shahjahanpur, and the Meeting of the General Body (comprising 982 members present) of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission on 8th February, 1984.
Shri KC Narayana of the break-away ISRC (Institute for Ram Chandra Institute), who was a member of the Working committee of SRCM in 1974 does not dispute the Presidency of SRCM but claims that the words "spiritual representative" are not in the document. ISRC claims Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur as their Master.
Followers of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission (registered in California), consider Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari as their current Master. Follower's of Shri Ram Chandra Mission (registered in India), consider their Master and guide to be Babuji, and claim that after the death of the founder, Babuji, the presidency of the Mission passed to Umesh Saxena, Babuji's son, until his death. The presidency allegedly then passed to his son, and grandson of the Founder, Navneet Kumar.
See references: Circular, Working Committee, Centre-in-Charge/Preceptors/Organisers of Shri Ram Chandra Mission in India & Abroad, dated 15th February, 1984); Minutes of the Working Committee, 6/7th February, 1984, at Shahjahanpur, U.P., India.; Minutes of General Body Meeting (982 present), 8th February, 1984, Shahjahanpur, U.P., India.)[http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/facts.html]
Out of three registered group's two claim the founder, Babuji is the only Master, whereas the SRCMtm, registered in California claims Chari as their guru.
==Dispute over the lineage of Shri Ram Chandra Mission==
Beside the SRCM, there are three other groups who claim the spiritual succession from Lalaji, the Yogabhyas,[http://www.yogabhyas.org/Ramashram.htm] with Dr. Chatterbuy as Guru, the NaqshMuMRa,[http://laalaajinilayam.googlepages.com/home] (Naqshbandiya Mujaddadia Mazahariya Ramchandriya), established by Lalaji's son, Mahatma Jagmohan Narain, and now headed by Lalaji's grandson, Samarthguru Mahatma Dinesh Kumar Saxena, [http://naqshmumraif.googlepages.com/chiraggohil], and the Institute for Ram Chandra Consciousness (ISRC)[http://www.sriramchandra.org/], with professor Dr Varadachari as Guru, who also claims the disputed succession from Ram Chandra of [[Shahjahanpur]][http://www.sriramchandra.org/Master/BabujiMaharajStory.htm].
The succession from Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur and his Shri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM) is also contested by members (son and grandson) of the family of the founder of SRCM. The past president of SRCM (Shahjahanpur) and son of Babuji, was Umesh Saxena until his untimely death in 2003. His son, (grandson of Babuji), Navneet Kumar, is the current president of SRCM Shahjahanpur. [http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/default.html]. The matter (SRCM Shahjahanpur versus Chariji) is currently pending before the Supreme Court of India [http://courtnic.nic.in/supremecourt/temp/ac661900p.txt]. The Case between Shri Ram Chandra Mission and Shri Parthasarthi Rajagopalachari (Chariji) regarding the property, emblem and spiritual ownership of Babuji's heritage is also pending. (See Court case details in references)
According to Shri KC Narayana, son of Dr Varadachari and founder of break-away ISRC, who was on the SRCM Working Committee in 1974, there is a disputed document which names Chariji as president of the SRCM but adds that the words "spiritual representative" are not mentioned. (See documents) [http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/facts.html]
This is contradicted by the Circular of the Working Committee, Centre-in-Charge/Preceptors/Organisers of Shri Ram Chandra Mission in India and Abroad, dated 15th February, 1984, which names Shri Umesh Chandra Saxena as Successor/President, as per the authenticated will and wishes of Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur (affectionately known as Babuji), founder of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission and originator of Sahaj Marg. This followed the Meeting of the Working Committee of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission, 6/7th February, 1984 at Shahjahanpur, U.P., India, and the Meeting of the General Body of Shri Ram Chandra Mission, with 982 persons present, 8th February, 1984, at Shahjahanpur, U.P., India. (see references)
The "break-away" ISRC (Institute for Ram Chandra Consciousness), and the SRCM Shahjahanpur, registered in India (1945) faction, see Ram Chandra (Babuji) as their Master (see ISRC and SRCM Shahjahanpur web site links below), though some in the SRCMtm registered in California, claim that Babuji himself in the literature has emphasized that a living Guru's guidance is necessary in the context of spiritual practise.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} But Chariji, in a speech to preceptors on January 16, 17, 2001, at the Babuji Memorial Ashram, stated: "I think much harm has been done by preceptors who think they are very devoted to the Master, by emphasizing this concept of the living Master"..."So for me personally, I would not talk about living Masters, dead Masters, existing Masters." (see references- SRCM web site)
Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari of the SRCMtm, registered in California, has anonouned Bhattar Ajay Kumar of Kolkata, India as his successor, who would become the president of the Sri Ram Chandra Misssion(R) (California) and the spiritual guide of the followers of Sahaj Marg(R). (see "Securing the Future of the Mission" a video transcript of proceedings at Tiruppur of Tamilnadu, India on 30th April 2005, SRCM centre archives).
According to a talk by Chariji, at Satkhol January 29, 2001 (see references-video transcript), the succession of the Ram Chandra Mission must remain in the male gender as the job includes an ability for destruction, and women do not possess such an ability.
==Teachings from the Shri Ram Chandra material==
Its adherents see it as a heart-based approach for realizing the presence of the leader within their lives. For adherents of Shri Ram Chandra Mission, their leader represents their Living God. [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/moreonmasters.html/#more]
Sahaj Marg, is claimed to be a remodeled and modified version of Patanjali's [[Raja Yoga]] (yoga of the mind). Sahaj Marg claims that this modification is to suit and help the man of present-day world achieve the same level of inner perfection as the leader, which according to Sahaj Marg is a synonym for God Realization. [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/sahajmarg.html] It is a [[Renunciate|non-renunciate]] form of Raja Yoga, the '[[Renunciate|renunciation]]' (renouncing the material world) of Raja Yoga having been
replaced by '[[detachment]]' (detachment from the material world) and attachment to the leader. Readers will note that the "austerities" (tapas) and the Yamas of Raja Yoga, with regards to the "non-receiving of any gifts" as described by Swami Vivekananda are not part of Sahaj Marg. (Complete works of Swami Vivekananda-see references).
The Group understands that the mind is the key instrument in a human being, they also claim that by proper regulation of the mind by dedicating one's love towards the leader and taking regular sittings with the preceptor, one can allegedly erase one's samskaras [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/sahajmarg.html](imprints on the soul by our past thoughts or actions). This is apparently done with the help of light traveling from the leader's heart to the members heart via the preceptor's heart. Thus, one can apparently evolve to the highest that the leader has allegedly attained. The leader supposedly transmits to the disciple either directly or via a preceptor that the disciple sees once a week in a private sitting. There is also one or two group sittings and repeated readings of the leader's material every week is suggested. There is also a suggested daily practice which involves a daily meditation, a daily cleansing, a weekly private sitting with a preceptor, and one or two group sittings per week. There are regional gatherings on the birthdays of the leaders.
Sahaj Marg is a non-monastic movement. Those who adhere to the practice are referred to as '[[abhyasi]]s'; a preceptor is an [[abhyasi]] who has been prepared and permitted by the leader to introduce people to the Sahaj Marg system and conduct group meditation. Sahaj Marg claims that adherents of all religions are welcome, and do not have to reject their religion to practice Sahaj Marg. (see below in Other Religions)
Group meditations and individual sitting with preceptors (which takes place in isolation with only the preceptor and the abhyasi present) are free of charge. There is a one-time fee for producing membership cards [http://www.srcm.org/members/forms/membershipcards/cardinfo_india1_processing.jsp] which is required to access all Mission facilities and gatherings. Voluntary donations are requested to cover expenses for gatherings and stays at Mission Ashrams. All the subscriptions for printed, audio and video material have their own costs depending on the type of material.
According to Babuji, the Founder of Sahaj Marg, children are not to be in the room during meditation. The suggested minimum age limit for beginning Sahaj Marg meditation is 18yrs old.
=== On other religions ===
'''On all religions'''- The current leader, Chariji, stated that abhyasis were lucky. If they were in a religion, he said, they would have to go to church and "you know", tell lies in that "wonderful place called the confessional". “Lord, forgive me for what I have done this week.” And there would be an equally sinful priest on the other side of the curtain saying, “In the name of the [[Jesus Christ|Lord Jesus Christ]] I absolve you of your sins.” Something that according to Chariji, he has no power to do. No man on earth has the power, he states, to absolve you of your sins except two people: one, oneself, and the other, God. In between there is nobody who can do it, he stated. Then he added, that is why religion is useless, that is why religion has failed. That’s why, the Master (please see note below - Chari requests all to stop addessing him as Master) stated, the abhyasis are all here, and not in church. (paraphrased from speech, (Reverence, Respect & Restraint), Denmark, Nov. 2005, see references) [http://www.srcm.org/literature/recent.speeches/index.jsp]
...and later:
Chariji stated that he was no Christ, ("you know"), to crucify himself on the cross for all of them. Did they think Christ was a wise man, he asked, that he (Christ) became crucified so that forever and ever after humanity would be absolved of its sins? "I don’t think so", he said. It gave people more license for indulgence. But after all, he said, they have been forgiven two thousand years ago for what they are going to do today, what their children were going to do ten years hence. He said that he did not think he (Christ) was wise. According to Chariji, he (Christ) left no room, no incentive for human beings to change, become moral, become spiritual. He said that they were all happy that they had a Christ who got crucified. He added that none of us weep for Christ and that we were happy. “God bless him,” we say, which is another blasphemy. He then said that the abhyasis need blessings, not Christ. (paraphrased from peech, (Reverence, Respect & Restraint), Denmark, Nov. 2005, see references) [http://www.srcm.org/literature/recent.speeches/index.jsp]
At a preceptors' seminar in January, 2001, Chari stated:
"In the Indian scene, the Hindus and Hinduism is corrupt. God is personified as somebody who can be bribed with gifts, with so called prasads - offering temptation of Heaven which fact Babuji emphasized in His teachings, saying that religions depends on two instruments - temptation and fear."
"I am afraid that Sahaj Marg is suffering in this way because even when Christian people become abhyasis and preceptors, they somehow, somewhere along the way seem to lose this idea of love, charity, compassion, faith and become preceptors. So what Spirituality offers and can deliver, our priesthood, I would categorize you as, say temporarily as priesthood - they destroy." (Speech, Preceptor's Seminar, Jan. 2001-See references)
Written in the Sahaj Marg material: Abhyasi's question:"..... "Why do I have to give up my existing religious practices....."
Chari's answer: "All religious practice involve the worship of God as being outside us. It is called Bahya Upachara in Sanskrit. Spirituality puts God where HE really is - inside the human heart, and indeed at the heart of every created thing, as [[Krishna|Lord Krishna]] says in the [[Bhagavad Gita]]. One cannot mix the two. In the [[Vedas]] Murthy Pooja is called the lowest form of worship. Mantra is only a way of pleasing the mind, and bhajans please the senses, while giving the illusion of being a form of worship. I trust that this will be satisfactory. If people have more questions, they should be encouraged to read the Gita slowly, and try to understand it. Love to all." (Sahaj Sandesh No.: 2005.31- See references) (please see note below - Chari requests all to stop addressing him as Master)
According to the teaching of this system, God is simple, and therefore, the way to reach Him must be simple. On the Nature of the Divine, when asked why in all the written material, God was referred to as "Him", Chariji replied: "God is Male, Nature is female." (SMRTI-Youth Services-Story Telling-See references [http://www.sahajmarg.org/youth/story92.html]
Chariji has repeatedly asked people to stop calling him "Master" or referring to him as such.
In his "Heart to Heart - Vol. 1" by P. Rajagopalachari. (Pages 270-280 "Who is a Master?") 1st Edition 1988 - Published by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Pacific Grove, CA, USA.
"But some people persist in addressing me as "Master". I have been annoyed by this practice myself..I have never claimed to be a Master.. It is unfortunate that some people ..are addressing me by that term."
"So in fact, the purpose of my talk is to request all of you to stop addressing me as Master."
In spite of this, the Mission of which Chari is "president" persists in disobeying this request and the material has Chari as one of the Masters of the Mission. [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/masters-index.html]
=== On chosing a master ===
On '''choosing a guru''', Chariji in his book: ''Heart of the Lion'', states:
"...while there are innumerable gurus, the real guru is none but God himself. It is the duty of each guru to lead his disciple to the next higher one when his own work with the disciple is finished. No guru should hold his disciples to himself possessively. A guru is for service to others and not for building up possessions, power and prestige for himself ."
(Taken from My Master, p. 28, chapter "Tolerance" - Chariji)
"....So I repeat, the Guru is the only friend. In fact, I have said this so often, that in the Sufi philosophy, the Guru is called Friend. "The Friend is coming". Because he is the only fellow who can give his life for you. He is the only fellow, therefore, to whom you must hand over totally, a Power of Attorney....."Do with me as you think I deserve to be done with. Kick me when I have to be kicked. Beat me when I have to be beaten. Curse me when I have to be cursed. But make of me what you think I should be eventually, because only you can do it."
"So once more I say this in all humility....if you must have a Master, find a fellow who is capable of, you know, throwing you around, beating you up, cutting you to pieces. Remember Parushurama's father and the stern test that young boy had to make for obedience...."Kill your Mother". "Yes"..."
"He pulled out the sword and cut off her head. He said, "I am pleased with you my son. Ask for anything you want." He said, "I want my mother alive." And He said, "So be it." and she got up and walked off. The Guru is the Master, when you say of destiny, it means life and death. He must be the Master of your life as he must be the Master of your death." (From Heart of the Lion, Shri Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari-see references)
Chari has repeatedly asked people not to stop calling him "Master" or referring to him as such.
In his "Heart to Heart - Vol.l" by P. Rajagopalachari. (Pages 270-280 "Who is a Master?") 1st Edition 1988 - Published by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Pacific Grove, CA, USA.
"But some people persist in addressing me as "Master". I have been annoyed by this practice myself..I have never claimed to be a Master..It is unfortunate that some people ..are addressing me by that term.So in fact, the purpose of my talk is to request all of you to stop addressing me as Master."
=== On freedom ===
On '''freedom''', in Salient Points of Sahaj Marg, it states that with Sahaj Marg, abhyasis have voluntarily, whole-heartedly and devotedly surrendered it to the Master of their Soul. To those who are fortunate enough to arrive at this stage, the Master is apparently no longer a guide for spirituality alone. He has now become the Master of the abhyasis' life in all it's aspects of existence. He apparently has become the father, the mother, the son, the teacher, the doctor, in fact, there is no role that He does not play in the abhyasi's life. He has taken total charge of the abhyasi. It further states that only the surrendering to Him can bring about a state where He can take total charge of the abhyasis! (From Salient Features of Sahaj Marg - Series 2- Page 26 See references)
=== On homosexuality ===
On '''homosexuality''', the Master (please see referenced note - Chari requests all to stop addressing him as Master)of this system in a recent speech said that unlike the churches of the world, Sahaj Marg does not perform same-sex marriages. "That is unnatural", he said. God did not intend it to be thus, he added. He then said it was a personal comment. But there are things credited to Babuji Maharaj “If God did not want two sexes, he could have as well created one and seen that the world propagated by itself."...Why two sexes? he questioned. Apparently not so that one sex should marry among themselves, according to Sahaj Marg Masters. "So, what the church may allow, I don’t have to condone or accept", he said, not mentionning what churches condones or performs same-sex marriages. "To me", Chariji said, "it is a very blatant misuse of so-called privileges of the human being, fundamental rights, et cetera. Of course, if you claim it is your fundamental right to go the dogs, so be it! Even God cannot stop it.
See references: Speech by Chariji "Balance-The Crux of Life" Jan 20, 2006 in Malaysia [http://www.srcm.org/literature/recent.speeches/060120_Malaysia.jsp]
=== On philosophy ===
On the '''philosophy''' of Sahaj Marg, in a speech on New Year's Day, 2005
at Babuji Memorial Ashram, Manapakkam, India, according to Chariji, there is no room for philosophy in speeches of Sahaj Marg. In fact, he stated, "Sahaj Marg has no philosophy. It does not rest on any philosophy. It is neither advaita nor dvaita nor vishishta advaita." (From Speech by Shri Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari -Jan 1, 2005 at Babuji Memorial Ashram, Manapakkam, India- see references)
On the other hand, the founder of the Shri Ram Chandra Mision, Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur, affectionately known as "Babuji", wrote the book: "SAHAJ MARG PHILOSOPHY", first published by the Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Shahjahanpur, in 1969.
=== Be like lions ===
'''Be like lions:''' Sahaj Marg wants the abhyasis to be like lions:
The abhyasi is asked to look within. Look to the Heart. Build your heart, they are told. Make it brave, make it strong, make it courageous. They are asked to be lions, as Babuji wanted, he exhorts. He said: "One lion is worth more that five hundred sheep." It is not that we do not accept sheep but we accept sheep who are willing to become lions, not sheep who want to stay on as sheep.......And what was but a shepherd's pen has now become the jungle in which the lions roam freely. This is what Sahaj Marg is setting out to achieve, according to Babuji.
".....He wanted our hearts to be like lions - brave, courageous, capable of discrimination, able to give up everything for the sake of the Master." (From Salient Points of Sahaj Marg, Series 2-Page 21 see references)
=== On idolatry ===
On '''idolatry''', the Sahaj Marg material states:
"Sahaj Marg has nowhere said temple worship is wrong, nor does Master expressly forbid idol worship" ....To abhyasis, the preceptor, apparently, becomes such an idol. The author states: "I believe that any abhyasi who says, "my preceptor" when talking about the preceptor who is serving him has fallen into this form of idol worship." It appears that there is concern that the preceptor can be transformed into an idol, or idolised. The author follows: "Here again the Master may be in the background, but is that Master's rightful place?"
"So Master's message is quite clear. All credit goes to our Master. When we give credit where it is not due, that too is a form of idol worship. We should beware of falling into such errors......." ("Salient Features of Sahaj Marg" (SMRI Series 3) Page 52-53 see references)
=== On donations ===
On '''donations''', the abhyasis is to think that it is their Mission, it is their Master, it is His plant, therefore, it is theirs, then, apparently, there is no sacrifice, there is no giving. The abhyasis are only watering their own plant. Who should they credit for it, is the question asked by the Master.
To think that the Master depends on the abhyasis' donation could very possibly be a sin, according to the Master. Masters exist in a dimension where money does not play a part. Whenever the Master makes the abhyasis donate something, he apparently does so as to lighten their burdens. Their contribution to the Master's work is apparently of the same proportion as the squirrel's contribution to Lord Rama's work. (from Salient Points of Sahaj Marg Series 3- Page 25 See references)
According to SRCM Shahjahanpur, registered in India, this statement about donations is not part of the original teachings of Sahaj Marg and does not exist in the original tenets or philosophy of Sahaj Marg, nor can it be considered to be in any way in the spirit of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission, or of its founder Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur (affectionately known as Babuji), nor that of his Master, Shri Ram Chandra of Fategarh (Lalaji).
See references-Books by Shri Ram Chandra (Babuji) including: "Some Important Features of Sahaj Marg", "The Efficacy of Raja Yoga in the Light of Sahaj Marg", "Towards Infinity", "Reality at Dawn" etc. All published by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, U.P., India.
See also: "Truth Eternal" - the original writings of Samarth Guru Shri Ram Chandra Maharaj of Fategarh, U.P. First edition published 1973 by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, U.P., India.
=== On democracy ===
On '''democracy''', the current Master, Chariji (see referenced note - Chari has requested that all stop addressing him as Master) stated that until there are no walls, one cannot say, "We're a free people," because, according to Chariji, we are only selecting the people we will accept. According to him, democracy is like a club, a select club, a rich man's club, a club of power. According to Chariji, because any organisation, including a democracy, has the power of accepting or rejecting, we can't say it is a free organisation? "Yes or no?" he asked. "No", he replied.
Chariji claimed that Sahaj Marg has no such restriction. Everybody, from anywhere in the world is welcome. According to Chariji, everybody can come, everybody can go. Apparently, there are no restrictions. There are no fees. There are no restriction of education. "Is it a free organisation?", he asked. "Is it human? Is it the real democracy of a free people, for a free people, by a free people? Yes or no?" (Audience: "Yes.")"
Then Chari stated: "So Sahaj Marg is today, in my opinion, the only organisation in this world fulfilling the requirements of this definition of "Liberté, egalité, fraternité" [Freedom, equality, fraternity]. Vive le Sahaj Marg! [Long live Sahaj Marg!] (applause)." (from Shri P. Rajagopalachari at Cossonay, Switzerland on July 13, 2003-see references)
==European headquarters==
The European headquarters were at Augerans Castle (old Peugeot Castle), near the small village of Dole in France but there were problems around land use, which, according to report in the local media, included the large number of people taking part at events. (see references) The issue of "obedience" of civil servants to a foreign national and subsequent court cases and reports by committees of the French government finally soured the atmosphere between the Shri Ram Chandra Mission and the local population and the French government. (see referenes)
The European headquarters of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission has now moved to the Vrads Sande Castle in Denmark.[http://www.srcm.org/srcminfo/servlet/CenterTree?ViewAshramInfo=1&NodeId=364] Along with the controversies, there has been some concerns and discontentment among some European and North American abhyasis with the Management of the Mission. (See refererences to European Blogs below and read testimonials and comments by abhyasis and preceptors).
In 1995 a report by a French Government Committee called "Report Made In The Name Of The Board Of Inquiry Into Cults" included the Shri Ram Chandra Mission on a list of 189 groups.[http://www.cftf.com/french/Les_Sectes_en_France/cults.html] The Miviludes Report to the Prime Minister in 2003 called the "Interministerial Mission of Vigilance & Combat against Sectarian Aberrations" also mentions the Shri Ram Chandra Mission.[http://www.miviludes.org/IMG/pdf/Report_MIVILUDES_2003.pdf]
== North American headquarters==
The Canadian Headquarters of the Mission is in North York, Ontario and in the United States, the Shri Ram Chandra Mission is registered in San Luis Obispo, California and the research arm of the Mission, the Sahaj Marg Research and Teaching Institute SMRTI is registered in Austin, Texas.
==Activities==
There are a range of activities that the organization engages in:
*[http://www.spiritualityfoundation.org/welcome/smsf.html Sahaj Marg Spirituality Foundation]is a nonprofit association organized pursuant to the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act. Among other things, it funds scholarships for people wishing to visit India to [http://sahajmarg.org/welcome/crest/CREST_Inaugural_circular.pdf study spirituality], providing those without means with air ticket, shelter and food in one of the training centers specifically set up for this purpose. These are residential courses that claim to follow the ancient Indian "gurukula" system of education involving a spartan setting.
*Every year on [[July 24]], SRCM organizes a gathering in the form of the Master's birthday celebration. Every year, a new town is selected and everyone is invited to attend. Because the Masters of Sahaj Marg have discussed at length, the significance of Mission gatherings to the abhyasis spiritual growth, all abhyasis are strongly encouraged by their peers and preceptors to attend. Similar gatherings are held for Lalaji and Babuji's birth anniversaries.
*[http://www.omegaschools.org/news_inauguration.htm Lalaji Memorial Omega School], managed by the Baal Vatika Educational Society, with Shri Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari as executive trustee. The Baal Vatika Educational Society accepts and manages funds for the School, which is located in Chennai, India and operates as a private school.
*Shri Ram Chandra Mission is part of the [[Ngo|NGO]] network and is listed as a non-governmental non-profit organization that works in support of the public good and fulfills the principles outlined in the United Nations.
*Value-Based Spiritual Education course materials have been developed.
*[http://sahajmarg.org/smrti/rc/studygrp/index.html Study groups], seminars for practitioners and the youth, school curriculum K-12 etc.
*The Mission participates in the relief activities during selected times of natural calamities by either collecting money and routing it through the Prime Minister's Relief fund or through other organizations involved in the operations.
*In some Ashrams there is also [http://www.srcm.org/members/forms/guidelines.pdf free medical assistance] provided to abhyasis.
*Donations also fund scholarships that allow practitioners who can't afford to travel to India, to spend some time in one of the [http://sahajmarg.org/smrti/scholarship/index.html ashrams].
*Donations are also used to purchase land and property for ashram.
*Donations are also used for travel and lodging of Master and people surrounding Master as and when they visit various locations.
*Other modes of raising money is by sale of Mission books and CDs to members.
==Books & References==
* [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/smsf.html SMRTI - Sahaj Marg Research and Training Institute]
* [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/smsf.html SMSF - Sahaj Marg Spirituality Foundation]
* [http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/who_can_be.html SRCM Shahjahanpur-Babuji's Grandson, Navneet Kumar's site]
* [http://naqshmumraif.googlepages.com/chiraggohil Golden Delicious Chain of Naqshbandiya Mujaddadia Mazahariya Ramchandriya-Naqsh MuMRa]
* Yogis in silence - The Great Sufi Masters by R.K.Gupta [Published by BRPC Ltd., India]
* Sufism Beyond Religion by R.K.Gupta [Published by BRPC Ltd., India]
* The Science and Philosophy of Spirituality by R.K.Gupta [Published by BRPC Ltd., India]
* Prem Pravartak Sufi (in Hindi) by R.K.Gupta [Published by BRPC Ltd., India]
* Sufi Santmat - Darshan aur Vigyan (in Hindi) by R.K.Gupta [Published by BRPC Ltd., India]
* Historique d'une succession divine GEMPPI n°66, [[19 May]] [[2005]]
* La justice contre la presse-Le Matin, [[8 February]] [[2004]]
* Augerans: la vente du château se précise-Le Progrès du Jura, [[23 January]] [[2003]]
* L'aménagement du château d'Augerans se précise-Le Progrès du Jura, [[26 March]] [[2003]]
* Gourou et politique: "Ça ne vous regarde pas!"-Le Matin, [[6 May]] [[2001]] par Olivier Grivat
* Une secte apocalyptique s'installe au coeur de Nice-ViaNice, February 2001
* Historique d'une succession divine [http://www.prevensectes.com/sriram8.htm GEMPPI n°66, [[19 May]] [[2005]]]
* [http://www.prevensectes.com/shriram.htm Prevente Sectes]
* Le juge et le Gourou La Dépêche du Jura du [[5 November]] [[1996]]
* La secte Shri Ram Chandra Mission déménage de son château, [http://www.afp.fr/english/home/ AFP] [[23 November]] [[2001]]
* [http://permanent.nouvelobs.com/ Le Nouvel Obs], n°1861, semaine du [[6 July]] [[2000]], par Hubert Prolongeau
* Augerans ou comment s'implanter dans une commune [http://membres.lycos.fr/mielk/augerans.html Mielk],-le novembre 2001
* Transcript of video of talk by Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari at Satkhol Airport [[29 January]] [[2001]].
* [http://www.srcm.org/literature/articles/EvolutionSMFromYoga.jsp Evolution Of Sahaj Marg From Vedic And Yogic Practices by Dr. KS Balasubramaniam]
* [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/babuji-more.html Babuji from SMRTI]
* [http://naqshmumraif.googlepages.com/chiraggohil Dinesh Kumar Saxena "Laalaaji Nilayam"]
* [http://laalaajinilayam.googlepages.com/vasihatnaama Parampujya Laalaaji’s Vasihatnaama (The Will)]
* "Change and continuity in Indian Sufism" by Thomas Dahnhardt, university researcher from the Centre for Islamic Studies of Oxford University, and professor of Urdu litterature and Islamic Civilization in India, at the University of Venice, It.
* The autobiography of Ram Chandra", vol I, 1899-1932, SRCM Shahjahanpur, October 1980, 2nd edition edited by Umesh Saxena (Babuji's son)
*[http://courtnic.nic.in/supremecourt/temp/ac661900p.txt Appeal filed in Supreme Court of India]
* [http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/facts.html Circular of Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Shahjahanpur, dated 15th February 1984.]
* [http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/facts.html Minutes of the Working Committee Meeting, 6/7th February 1984 at Shahjahanpur, U.P., India.]
* [http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/facts.html Minutes of General Body Meeting (982 members present)held on 8th February 1984, at Shahjahanpur, U.P., India.]
* Video transcript at SRCM or site at: Our World from Another Dimension
* Sahaj Marg-The Living Tradition of Sahaj Marg [http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Sahaj_Marg/id/51257]
*"SOME IMPORTANT FEATURES OF SAHAJ MARG" by Shri Ram Chandra, published 1981 by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Shahjahanpur, U.P.)
* "The Efficacy of Raja Yoga in the Light of Sahaj Marg", "Towards Infinity", "Reality at Dawn" etc. All by Shri Ram Chandra and published by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, U.P., India.
* "Truth Eternal" - the original writings of Samarth Guru Shri Ram Chandra Maharaj of Fategarh, U.P. First edition published 1973 by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, U.P., India.
==Opinions of dissociated, questioning and/or ex-abhyasis:==
Author, businessman, ex-preceptor and ex-member of publishing arm of SRCM and member of "inner circle"
* [http://innercircleofsrcm.blogspot.com/ Inner Circle of SRCM- USA]
Author is a Phd Research Psychologist and a 20-year member:
* [http://spydi.blogspot.com/ Spiritual Discussion on SPIDI] (replaces "Poxy SRCM")
This is the original site on SRCMtm in Europe (group of parents of abhyasis):
* [http://membres.lycos.fr/mielk/english.html Mielk - A French Analysis- France-Fr. & Eng.]
European discussion site called "Long life SRCM" for questionning members (mostly FR):
* [http://pourquevivelesahajmarg.blogspot.com/ The Desperate Abhyasi-Europe -Fr. & some Eng.]
Author is an ex-member from India:
* [http://www.geocities.com/sha211_211/srcm.html Freedom to Speak Power to Speak]
==See also==
*[[Sahaj Marg]]
*[[List of groups referred to as cults in government reports#France ]]
==External links==
*[http://www.srcm.org Shri Ram Chandra Mission] (California Based SRCM)
*[http://www.sahajmarg.org Sahaj Marg Spirituality Foundation]
* [http://www.arb-forum.com/domains/decisions/94237.htm See domain dispute here]
*[http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/default.html Shri Ram Chandra Mission Shahjahanpur](India Based SRCM)
'''Warning against SRCM by French Government and Cult Watch groups'''
* [http://www.miviludes.org/IMG/pdf/Report_MIVILUDES_2003.pdf Report Submitted to Prime Minister of France] Refer to page 81, of the document. Also footnote 24 and 25
* [http://www.cftf.com/french/Les_Sectes_en_France/cults.html French NATIONAL ASSEMBLY Report](Ref: Cult movement's with 2000 to 10000 followers)
* [http://www.anti-scientologie.ch/liens-bookmarks.htm Warning by French Cult watch group]
* [http://www.prevensectes.com/shriram.htm Prevent Sect group warning]
* [http://www.unadfi.com/spip.php?article340 UNADFI comments on SRCM and similar groups]
* [http://www.icsahome.com International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)] Search for Ram Chandra Misison Chari group
'''Websites of Associations and Institutions with similar lineage as Shri Ram Chandra Mission:'''
* [http://www.sriramchandra.org/ Insitute for Ram Chandra Consciousness (ISRC)]
* [http://www.yogabhyas.org/default.htm Yogabhyas]
* [http://www.ramashram.com/ Ramashram- Guru Maharaj, Dr. Chaturbhuj Sahay Ji]
* [http://www.geocities.com/sufisaints/ Sufism in India and Naqsh MuMRa by Dr. RK Gupta]
* [http://naqshmumraif.googlepages.com/chiraggohil "Laalaaji Nilayam" Golden Chain (Lalaji's Family]
* [http://laalaajinilayam.googlepages.com/vasihatnaama Parampujya Laalaaji’s Vasihatnaama Lalaji's Will]
* [http://www.abssatsang.org/founder.htm ABS Satsang]
This is from the Shri Ram Chandra Mission on Wikipedia of June 5, 2007
(see Wiki page "history"- see Archives of discussion page for editor banter)
'''Shri Ram Chandra Mission''' is a [[new religious movement]] which was founded in 1945 at Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India by '''Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur''' (known as Babuji). It teaches a form of mediation called [[Sahaj Marg]] ("The Natural Path").
There are two factions claiming ownership of the SRCM, one is headed by Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari, also known as Chariji, (SRCMtm registerd in California, USA in 1997) with their headquarters at Manapakkam, Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India. Also in the disputed control of SRCMtm faction, is the Sahaj Marg Research and Teaching Institute (SMRTI), and the Sahaj Marg Spirituality Foundation (SMSF), registered in Austin, Texas (USA). This faction also operates a private boarding school in Chennai, India: the Lalaji Memorial Omega (International) School [[http://www.omegaschools.org/news_inauguration.htm] under the management of the Lalaji Memorial Educational Society.
The SRCMtm (California) claims more than 1500 centres in India and abroad, with a presence on every continent and in over 80 countries. They claim over 200,000 adherents. [http://www.srcm.org/centers/index.html].
The SRCMtm, (California) is listed as part of the [[NGO]] network and as a non-government, non-profit organization. It claims that it works in support of the public good and fulfills some of the principles outlined by the United Nations DPI Program. {{fact|date=June 3, 2007}}
The other faction, SRCM Shahjahanpur is registered in India by Shri Ram Chandra (Babuji) of Shahjahanpur (1945). This faction is represented by some members of the family of the founder. (see Dispute over the SRCM below)
Shri Ram Chandra Mission has been listed as a [[cult]] in government reports. [http://www.miviludes.org/IMG/pdf/Report_MIVILUDES_2003.pdf] [http://www.antisectes.net/us-report-fr2000-eng.htm] [http://www.ciaosn.be/biblior.htm].
==Lineage of Shri Ram Chandra Mission==
Babuji claimed Lalaji as his guru after having met him a few times only, based on one of his dreams, which occurred thirteen (13) years after Lalaji's death. Babuji claimed that Lalaji transmitted his succession to him during that dream. After this dream transmission, he founded the '''Shri Ram Chandra Mission'''. This group still claims a lineage originating from Lalaji. There are many other legal and verifiable lineages to Lalaji in existence. (see lineage below)
After the founder's death in 1983 one of the founder's disciples (Chari) claimed to have a letter of succession from Babuji. As the letter was not accepted by the Working Committee of SRCM Shahjahanpur, [http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/facts.html]Chari formed a new group called SRCMtm and registered it in California, USA in 1997. [http://www.srcm.org/members/privacypolicy.jsp] The legality of Chari's claim however is pending in Supreme Court of India. [http://courtnic.nic.in/supremecourt/temp/ac661900p.txt]
Hence there are currently two factions claiming ownership of the SRCM. The first one is based in [http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/default.html Shahjahanpur], and was initially presided by the founder, Babuji, then by the founders son, Shree Umesh Saxena, and after his untimely death, by the founder's grandson (and son of Umesh Saxena), Shri Navneet Kumar. This faction claims that there is no [[guru]] other than Babuji himself. The other group, SRCMtm registered in California, claims that Chari is the one who was chosen by Babuji as his spiritual and legal successor.
===Lalaji's Naqshbandi Sufi Lineage (from Islam)===
"The Naqshbandiyya Sufi has spread to every nook and corner of India and also abroad through the efforts of Mahatma Ram Chandraji and his disciples, especially Mahatma Chaturbhuj Sahayji and Mahatma Ram Chandraji of Sahajahanpur (founder of Shri Ram Chandra Mission) and his disciple Shri Rajagopalachari. It was said by Maulvi Ahmad Ali Khan (the spiritual Master of Hujur Maharaj) that his Master (Shaikh Abul Hasan) had told him, 'A Hindu boy will come to you, who will spread this spiritual practice amongst many'. This Hindu boy is believed by some to have been Mahatma Ram Chandraji, who succeeded Hujur Maharaj in the Naqshbandiyya Order of Sufism". Dr. RK Gupta (Naqsh MuMRa) i.e. Naqshbandia Mujaddidia Mazaharia Ramchandria) refers to a stream of the great Naqshbandiyya Sufi Silsila (Order). It is an Indian-Sufi branch. Its genealogy is known as [http://naqshmumraif.googlepages.com/chiraggohil ‘Shizra Sharif’]. Mahatma Shri Ram Chandraji Maharaj of Fatehgarh, UP is the 36th in this lineage and the first non-muslim Sufi saint of the Naqshbandiyya Order (see [http://naqshmumraif.googlepages.com/chiraggohil "Golden Delicious Chain"] of Naqshbandiyya MuMRa Order. (Dr. RK Gupta - see references from many books)
Some (non-sufi) followers of SRCMtm assert that Lalaji became God realized after seven months of meditation,[http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Sahaj_Marg/id/51257] and that he rediscovered the system of "heart to heart transmission" used in ancient times although according to RK Gupta (see references and Naqsh Mumra Web site), "heart to heart" transmission was never lost in the Naqshbandiyya Sufi tradition of Lalaji's Master, and did not have to be rediscovered.
Pujya Lalaji had a brother Raghubar Dayal Ji, also called Chachcha Ji (N°37 of the lineage), and a son Jagmohan Narain (N°38) and 2 grandsons: Akhilesh KUMAR Ji (N°39) and Dinesh KUMAR Saxena (current N°40).
On the other hand, Chachcha Ji, brother of Lalaji, had 3 offsprings: Brijmohan Lal also called Dadda Ji, Radha Mohan Lal and Jyotendra Mohan Lal. Brijmohan Lal (Dadda Ji) had several pupils of which Yashpal Ji also called Bhai Sahab Ji, founder of movement ABSS “Akhil Bhartiya Santmat Satsang” (see www.abssatsang.org). Radha Mohan Lal Ji had as disciple, Dr. Chandra Gupta. If one adds to that the Ramashram Satsang resulting from the disciples of Lalaji, with personalities like Dr. Chaturbhuj Sahai of Mathura and/or Thakur Ram Singhji of Jaipur, Dr Srikrishn Lal of Bulandshahar could all be in their lineage to their Master, Lalaji, the 36th of the Sufi Order and his Master Hujur Mahara). (Dinesh Kumar Saxena "Laalaaji Nilayam") (see References and citations below)
===Shri Ram Chandra of Fatehgarh (Lalaji)===
Lalaji's father [[chowdhury|Chaudhari]] Harbaksh Rai was one of the descendants of a highly respected Kayasth family of District Mainpuri. Emperor Akbar had gifted Babu Vrindavan, one of the renowned ancestors of this family, with the title [[Chowdhury|"Chaudhari"]]. (Paraphrased from Naqsh MuMRa-Dr.RK Gupta)
"Lalaji, as he was popularly called, belonged to a distinguished family of [[Jagir]]dars. Akbar, the great Moghul emperor, being a great statesman, befriended Hindus, made rapprochement with many and rewarded the brave. Sri Brindaban Babu, the great-grand father of Sri Lalaji Saheb, was a person of rare genius and his fine qualities and noble attainments won for him from Akbar, unstinted praise and friendship, the title of [[Chowdhury|Chaudhari]] and a [[jagir]] comprising of 555 villages. He took up his permanent residence in the town of Bhoomigram, which later came to be called Bhogaon, in the present district of Mainpuri." (Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur-see references)
"His family lived there till after the mutiny of 1857 when general arson, anarchy and looting prevailed in the name of freedom in the district rendering Bhomigram uninhabitable. Sri Harbux Rai, the worthy father of the Adi-Guru, migrated to Fatehgarh in the district of Farrukhabad. Here, he joined his assignment as Tax Superintendent and began to live with his family. Unfortunately, he had no son at the time and had adopted his nephew. Though his state had been subjected to considerable damage as a result of the post-mutiny disturbances and his property had been plundered, he had enough assets to live by in the manner of an old and rich aristocrat. But the transitional period could not suit him and his status continued to deteriorate. Yet, there were servants and maid servants, a respectable house equipped with necessary paraphernalia, conveyances, etc." (Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur-see references)
In an article published by the SRCM(tm), Dr. KS Balasubramianiam stated: "He (Lalaji) is rightly called as the first guru of the Sahaj Marg system and it is in his name that Shri Ram Chandra Mission was established in 1945 A.D., by his dearest disciple and successor, who also bore the same name (i.e. Shri Ram Chandraji)." (Dr. KS Balasubramaniam see references below)
===Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur (Babuji)===
"Babuji was born on April 30, 1899 in [[Shahjahanpur]], a large town in the northern state of [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]]. He belonged to the family of "Bugaras", "Diwans". One of Babuji's forefathers was Chief of the Army Staff in Akbar's Army and got the title of "Bugara" from Akbar. One of Babuji's forefathers was Shri Kundal Lal Bakshi, who died as a valiant warrior in the famous "Battle of Buxar". According to The "Autobiography of Ram Chandra", (Published by SRCM, Shahjahanpur-see References): "My father was Rai Bahadur Sri Badri Prasad, Honorary Special Magistrate I Class." "Rai Bahadur" was a coveted Title given to respected Indians by the English during their Regime. Babuji was not named "Madhe Mohan Lal" as commented by Thomas Dahnhardt, University researcher, Oxford University. Babuji's father Rai Bahadur Badri Prasadji named him "Ram Chandra".
His father was a lawyer and noted scholar who educated his son extensively in English, Urdu and Persian, perhaps hoping that he would follow in his father’s footsteps. But from an early age, Ram Chandra's craving for spiritual realisation over-shadowed all other interests." (SMRTI-see references) He came to be known as "Babuji" as in the Shahjahanpur area all great and respected people are called "Babuji".
"He became a court clerk. He held that position in the Shahjahanpur district court for more than thirty years. He was married at the age of nineteen and his wife. Bhagwati, bore him two daughters and four sons before her death in 1949." (SMRTI-see references)
"On June 3, 1922, Babuji first met his Master, Lalaji, a man with the same name as himself (this statement is debated by Thomas Dahnhardt-see above and references), who lived in the town of [[Fatehgarh]] not far from [[Shahjahanpur]]. Lalaji apparently recognized Babuji as the man who had appeared to him in a dream years before, the one who was destined to succeed him as the leader of a great spiritual renaissance. Though teacher and disciple met only a few times before Lalaji's death in 1931, the thought of his Master remained constant in Babuji’s mind and heart from their first meeting until he passed away in April 1983 at the age of 83." (SMRTI-see references)
According to Lalaji's will, displayed on [http://laalaajinilayam.googlepages.com/laalaajiat-a-glance Laalaaji Nilayam], Lalaji's successor was to be his son: Jagmohan Narain (see references)
"It was on 14th August 1931 that his Guru entered Maha Samadhi and on 15th he felt that his Guru had transmitted him everything of His. It was a state of complete mergence of His Guru into him. On October 12th of 1932 he received further transmission from His deceased Master which he was not able to bear fully and he was overfilled with Divine Energy. It was by the grace of His Guru that later in 1944 he was blessed with the vision of the light that, apparently, Moses saw and also Shri Krishna's Viratsvarupa." (SMRTI-see References)
=== Shri Umesh Chandra Saxena / Shri Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari ===
According to followers of Mr. Chari and his SRCMtm registered in California, the current Master and President of Shri Ram Chandra Mission, is Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari (Chari).
"Shri Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari was born on [[July 24]], [[1927]], in the village of Vayalur near [[Chennai]] ([[Madras]]), in the south of India. Known to his family and close friends as Parthasarathi, he is affectionately called Chari, or Chariji, by his associates".{{Fact|date=February 2007}}
Chari joined the T. T. Krishnamachari group of companies in 1955, thereafter rising to the position of Executive Director of the Indian Textile Paper Tube Company, when he retired. He now dedicates his full time to the SRCMtm Mission, registered in California.
Chari has repeatedly stated (notably in his recorded speeches in U.K. & Europe) that he is not a "Master", and has requested that people stop calling him so and/or referring to him as such.
"But some people persist in addressing me as "Master". I have been annoyed by this practice myself....I have never claimed to be a Master.....It is unfortunate that some people....are addressing me by that same term.... So in fact, the purpose of my talk is to request all of you to stop addressing me as Master."
See references: particularly recorded speeches of Parthasarathi Rajagoplachari at Seminars in U.K. & Europe, mid-late 1980s.
See "Heart to Heart - Vol.l" by P. Rajagolachari. Chapter "Who is a Master?" (Pages 270-280). First Edition 1988 - Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Pacific Grove, CA, USA.
His followers apparently persist in disobeying his requests, as the official on-line sites of [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/masters-index.html SRCMtm] and [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/masters-index.html SMRTI] show Chariji as the Master of SRCM, along with Lalaji and Babuji.
Accoding the family of the founder, Babuji, and their supporters in the SRCM Shahajanpur, registered in India on the 21st July 1945, following the death the Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur, the originator of Sahaj Marg, the Working Committee, Centre-in-Charge/Preceptors/Organisers of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission in India and Abroad, on 15th April 1984 sent out a Circular confirming Shri Umesh Chandra Saxena, Babuji's son, as Successor/President of the Mission. (See references[http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/facts.html
==Masters and leadership==
According to the Sahaj Marg material of the California-based Chari group, there have been three [[guru]]s, or Masters, each of whom is believed to have passed on his spiritual condition and teachings to his most capable disciple.
The first guru of the Sahaj Marg lineage, according to the site of the SRCMtm faction, registered in California, was [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/lalaji.html Shri Ram Chandraji] of Fatehgarh, affectionately known as [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/lalaji.html Lalaji] who was a Master of the Naqashbandi order of Sufism but who according to non-Sufi followers, became God realized after only 7 months [http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Sahaj_Marg/id/51257] of meditadion, to have had no Master, and created the "heart to heart" transmission now claimed as unique to Sahaj Marg. [http://www.srcm.org/literature/articles/basics.jsp] See References: A Sahaj Marg Companion)[http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Sahaj_Marg/id/51257]
According to Naqsh MuMRa i.e. Naqshbandia Mujaddidia Mazaharia Ramchandria, Lalaji's Master was Maulana Fazl Ahmad Khan (Hujur Maharaj), sixth from Mirza Zanzana, and thirty-sixth in the line of succession of the Naqshbandi Order. Naqsh Mumra refers to a stream of the great Naqshbandi Sufi Silsila (Order). It is an Indian-Sufi branch. Before dying, Lalaji's spiritual competence was tested by his Master in a meditation with a multi-denominational panel. The panel agreed that Lalaji was a "perfect copy" of his Master. Lalaji, the first "giaour" or "non Muslim" of the Naqshbandia Order, lived from 1873 to 1931. [http://www.geocities.com/sufisaints/] (see references: books by Dr. RK Gupta)
His (Lalaji's) successor (disputed see [http://www.yogabhyas.org/default.htm Yogabhyas] site) was [[Shri Ram Chandra Ji]] of [[Shahjahanpur]], who lived from 1899 to 1983 and was affectionately known as [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/babuji.html Babuji]. Babuji claims to have received his successorship from Lalaji in a dream. (see references: Autobiography of Ram Chandra) On the Sufi lineage or Naqsh MuMRa i.e. Naqshbandia Mujaddidia Mazaharia Ramchandria which refers to a stream of the great Naqshbandi Sufi Silsila (Order), Mahatma Ram Chandraji apparently also blessed Thakur Ram Singhji to be a ‘Fanafil-Murid’ i.e. ‘a disciple with whom his Master has merged’ and that his fame would spread like the smell of roses. [http://www.geocities.com/sufisaints/] (see references: books by Dr. RK Gupta)
Another group, ISRC [http://www.sriramchandra.org/body.asp?file=master] founded by Shri K.C Narayana son of the late Dr.Varadachari, professor of Philosophy and member of the Working Committee of the SRCM Shahjahanpur, also claims the lineage from Babuji calling him the eternal Master.
The Guru/founder, [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/babuji.html Babuji], wrote an allegedly authenticated letter, which is now disputed, and is now alleged to be a forgery, wherein was stated Babuji's desire that Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari (Chari) be his successor. Babuji apparently gave three copies of the same letter stating his desire for Chariji to be his successor to Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari (Chari, Sister Kasturi Chatervedi and an un-named western associate.[http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/facts.html]
According to Babuji's family (Umesh Saxena and Navneet Kumar) and the SRCM registered in India in 1946, following the death of Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur (affectionately known as Babuji), founder of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission and the originator of Sahaj Marg, the Working Committee, Centre-in-Charge/Preceptors/Organizers of Shri Ram Chandra Mission in India and Abroad sent out a Circular, dated 15th February, 1984, naming Shri Umesh Chandra Saxena (Babuji's son)as Successor/President. This followed the Meetings of the Working Committee of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission (India) on 6/7th February, 1984, at Shahjahanpur, and the Meeting of the General Body (comprising 982 members present) of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission on 8th February, 1984.
Shri KC Narayana of the break-away ISRC (Institute for Ram Chandra Institute), who was a member of the Working committee of SRCM in 1974 does not dispute the Presidency of SRCM but claims that the words "spiritual representative" are not in the document. ISRC claims Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur as their Master.
Followers of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission (registered in California), consider Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari as their current Master. Follower's of Shri Ram Chandra Mission (registered in India), consider their Master and guide to be Babuji, and claim that after the death of the founder, Babuji, the presidency of the Mission passed to Umesh Saxena, Babuji's son, until his death. The presidency allegedly then passed to his son, and grandson of the Founder, Navneet Kumar.
See references: Circular, Working Committee, Centre-in-Charge/Preceptors/Organisers of Shri Ram Chandra Mission in India & Abroad, dated 15th February, 1984); Minutes of the Working Committee, 6/7th February, 1984, at Shahjahanpur, U.P., India.; Minutes of General Body Meeting (982 present), 8th February, 1984, Shahjahanpur, U.P., India.)[http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/facts.html]
Out of three registered group's two claim the founder, Babuji is the only Master, whereas the SRCMtm, registered in California claims Chari as their guru.
==Dispute over the lineage of Shri Ram Chandra Mission==
Beside the SRCM, there are three other groups who claim the spiritual succession from Lalaji, the Yogabhyas,[http://www.yogabhyas.org/Ramashram.htm] with Dr. Chatterbuy as Guru, the NaqshMuMRa,[http://laalaajinilayam.googlepages.com/home] (Naqshbandiya Mujaddadia Mazahariya Ramchandriya), established by Lalaji's son, Mahatma Jagmohan Narain, and now headed by Lalaji's grandson, Samarthguru Mahatma Dinesh Kumar Saxena, [http://naqshmumraif.googlepages.com/chiraggohil], and the Institute for Ram Chandra Consciousness (ISRC)[http://www.sriramchandra.org/], with professor Dr Varadachari as Guru, who also claims the disputed succession from Ram Chandra of [[Shahjahanpur]][http://www.sriramchandra.org/Master/BabujiMaharajStory.htm].
The succession from Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur and his Shri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM) is also contested by members (son and grandson) of the family of the founder of SRCM. The past president of SRCM (Shahjahanpur) and son of Babuji, was Umesh Saxena until his untimely death in 2003. His son, (grandson of Babuji), Navneet Kumar, is the current president of SRCM Shahjahanpur. [http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/default.html]. The matter (SRCM Shahjahanpur versus Chariji) is currently pending before the Supreme Court of India [http://courtnic.nic.in/supremecourt/temp/ac661900p.txt]. The Case between Shri Ram Chandra Mission and Shri Parthasarthi Rajagopalachari (Chariji) regarding the property, emblem and spiritual ownership of Babuji's heritage is also pending. (See Court case details in references)
According to Shri KC Narayana, son of Dr Varadachari and founder of break-away ISRC, who was on the SRCM Working Committee in 1974, there is a disputed document which names Chariji as president of the SRCM but adds that the words "spiritual representative" are not mentioned. (See documents) [http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/facts.html]
This is contradicted by the Circular of the Working Committee, Centre-in-Charge/Preceptors/Organisers of Shri Ram Chandra Mission in India and Abroad, dated 15th February, 1984, which names Shri Umesh Chandra Saxena as Successor/President, as per the authenticated will and wishes of Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur (affectionately known as Babuji), founder of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission and originator of Sahaj Marg. This followed the Meeting of the Working Committee of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission, 6/7th February, 1984 at Shahjahanpur, U.P., India, and the Meeting of the General Body of Shri Ram Chandra Mission, with 982 persons present, 8th February, 1984, at Shahjahanpur, U.P., India. (see references)
The "break-away" ISRC (Institute for Ram Chandra Consciousness), and the SRCM Shahjahanpur, registered in India (1945) faction, see Ram Chandra (Babuji) as their Master (see ISRC and SRCM Shahjahanpur web site links below), though some in the SRCMtm registered in California, claim that Babuji himself in the literature has emphasized that a living Guru's guidance is necessary in the context of spiritual practise.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} But Chariji, in a speech to preceptors on January 16, 17, 2001, at the Babuji Memorial Ashram, stated: "I think much harm has been done by preceptors who think they are very devoted to the Master, by emphasizing this concept of the living Master"..."So for me personally, I would not talk about living Masters, dead Masters, existing Masters." (see references- SRCM web site)
Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari of the SRCMtm, registered in California, has anonouned Bhattar Ajay Kumar of Kolkata, India as his successor, who would become the president of the Sri Ram Chandra Misssion(R) (California) and the spiritual guide of the followers of Sahaj Marg(R). (see "Securing the Future of the Mission" a video transcript of proceedings at Tiruppur of Tamilnadu, India on 30th April 2005, SRCM centre archives).
According to a talk by Chariji, at Satkhol January 29, 2001 (see references-video transcript), the succession of the Ram Chandra Mission must remain in the male gender as the job includes an ability for destruction, and women do not possess such an ability.
==Teachings from the Shri Ram Chandra material==
Its adherents see it as a heart-based approach for realizing the presence of the leader within their lives. For adherents of Shri Ram Chandra Mission, their leader represents their Living God. [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/moreonmasters.html/#more]
Sahaj Marg, is claimed to be a remodeled and modified version of Patanjali's [[Raja Yoga]] (yoga of the mind). Sahaj Marg claims that this modification is to suit and help the man of present-day world achieve the same level of inner perfection as the leader, which according to Sahaj Marg is a synonym for God Realization. [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/sahajmarg.html] It is a [[Renunciate|non-renunciate]] form of Raja Yoga, the '[[Renunciate|renunciation]]' (renouncing the material world) of Raja Yoga having been
replaced by '[[detachment]]' (detachment from the material world) and attachment to the leader. Readers will note that the "austerities" (tapas) and the Yamas of Raja Yoga, with regards to the "non-receiving of any gifts" as described by Swami Vivekananda are not part of Sahaj Marg. (Complete works of Swami Vivekananda-see references).
The Group understands that the mind is the key instrument in a human being, they also claim that by proper regulation of the mind by dedicating one's love towards the leader and taking regular sittings with the preceptor, one can allegedly erase one's samskaras [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/sahajmarg.html](imprints on the soul by our past thoughts or actions). This is apparently done with the help of light traveling from the leader's heart to the members heart via the preceptor's heart. Thus, one can apparently evolve to the highest that the leader has allegedly attained. The leader supposedly transmits to the disciple either directly or via a preceptor that the disciple sees once a week in a private sitting. There is also one or two group sittings and repeated readings of the leader's material every week is suggested. There is also a suggested daily practice which involves a daily meditation, a daily cleansing, a weekly private sitting with a preceptor, and one or two group sittings per week. There are regional gatherings on the birthdays of the leaders.
Sahaj Marg is a non-monastic movement. Those who adhere to the practice are referred to as '[[abhyasi]]s'; a preceptor is an [[abhyasi]] who has been prepared and permitted by the leader to introduce people to the Sahaj Marg system and conduct group meditation. Sahaj Marg claims that adherents of all religions are welcome, and do not have to reject their religion to practice Sahaj Marg. (see below in Other Religions)
Group meditations and individual sitting with preceptors (which takes place in isolation with only the preceptor and the abhyasi present) are free of charge. There is a one-time fee for producing membership cards [http://www.srcm.org/members/forms/membershipcards/cardinfo_india1_processing.jsp] which is required to access all Mission facilities and gatherings. Voluntary donations are requested to cover expenses for gatherings and stays at Mission Ashrams. All the subscriptions for printed, audio and video material have their own costs depending on the type of material.
According to Babuji, the Founder of Sahaj Marg, children are not to be in the room during meditation. The suggested minimum age limit for beginning Sahaj Marg meditation is 18yrs old.
=== On other religions ===
'''On all religions'''- The current leader, Chariji, stated that abhyasis were lucky. If they were in a religion, he said, they would have to go to church and "you know", tell lies in that "wonderful place called the confessional". “Lord, forgive me for what I have done this week.” And there would be an equally sinful priest on the other side of the curtain saying, “In the name of the [[Jesus Christ|Lord Jesus Christ]] I absolve you of your sins.” Something that according to Chariji, he has no power to do. No man on earth has the power, he states, to absolve you of your sins except two people: one, oneself, and the other, God. In between there is nobody who can do it, he stated. Then he added, that is why religion is useless, that is why religion has failed. That’s why, the Master (please see note below - Chari requests all to stop addessing him as Master) stated, the abhyasis are all here, and not in church. (paraphrased from speech, (Reverence, Respect & Restraint), Denmark, Nov. 2005, see references) [http://www.srcm.org/literature/recent.speeches/index.jsp]
...and later:
Chariji stated that he was no Christ, ("you know"), to crucify himself on the cross for all of them. Did they think Christ was a wise man, he asked, that he (Christ) became crucified so that forever and ever after humanity would be absolved of its sins? "I don’t think so", he said. It gave people more license for indulgence. But after all, he said, they have been forgiven two thousand years ago for what they are going to do today, what their children were going to do ten years hence. He said that he did not think he (Christ) was wise. According to Chariji, he (Christ) left no room, no incentive for human beings to change, become moral, become spiritual. He said that they were all happy that they had a Christ who got crucified. He added that none of us weep for Christ and that we were happy. “God bless him,” we say, which is another blasphemy. He then said that the abhyasis need blessings, not Christ. (paraphrased from peech, (Reverence, Respect & Restraint), Denmark, Nov. 2005, see references) [http://www.srcm.org/literature/recent.speeches/index.jsp]
At a preceptors' seminar in January, 2001, Chari stated:
"In the Indian scene, the Hindus and Hinduism is corrupt. God is personified as somebody who can be bribed with gifts, with so called prasads - offering temptation of Heaven which fact Babuji emphasized in His teachings, saying that religions depends on two instruments - temptation and fear."
"I am afraid that Sahaj Marg is suffering in this way because even when Christian people become abhyasis and preceptors, they somehow, somewhere along the way seem to lose this idea of love, charity, compassion, faith and become preceptors. So what Spirituality offers and can deliver, our priesthood, I would categorize you as, say temporarily as priesthood - they destroy." (Speech, Preceptor's Seminar, Jan. 2001-See references)
Written in the Sahaj Marg material: Abhyasi's question:"..... "Why do I have to give up my existing religious practices....."
Chari's answer: "All religious practice involve the worship of God as being outside us. It is called Bahya Upachara in Sanskrit. Spirituality puts God where HE really is - inside the human heart, and indeed at the heart of every created thing, as [[Krishna|Lord Krishna]] says in the [[Bhagavad Gita]]. One cannot mix the two. In the [[Vedas]] Murthy Pooja is called the lowest form of worship. Mantra is only a way of pleasing the mind, and bhajans please the senses, while giving the illusion of being a form of worship. I trust that this will be satisfactory. If people have more questions, they should be encouraged to read the Gita slowly, and try to understand it. Love to all." (Sahaj Sandesh No.: 2005.31- See references) (please see note below - Chari requests all to stop addressing him as Master)
According to the teaching of this system, God is simple, and therefore, the way to reach Him must be simple. On the Nature of the Divine, when asked why in all the written material, God was referred to as "Him", Chariji replied: "God is Male, Nature is female." (SMRTI-Youth Services-Story Telling-See references [http://www.sahajmarg.org/youth/story92.html]
Chariji has repeatedly asked people to stop calling him "Master" or referring to him as such.
In his "Heart to Heart - Vol. 1" by P. Rajagopalachari. (Pages 270-280 "Who is a Master?") 1st Edition 1988 - Published by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Pacific Grove, CA, USA.
"But some people persist in addressing me as "Master". I have been annoyed by this practice myself..I have never claimed to be a Master.. It is unfortunate that some people ..are addressing me by that term."
"So in fact, the purpose of my talk is to request all of you to stop addressing me as Master."
In spite of this, the Mission of which Chari is "president" persists in disobeying this request and the material has Chari as one of the Masters of the Mission. [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/masters-index.html]
=== On chosing a master ===
On '''choosing a guru''', Chariji in his book: ''Heart of the Lion'', states:
"...while there are innumerable gurus, the real guru is none but God himself. It is the duty of each guru to lead his disciple to the next higher one when his own work with the disciple is finished. No guru should hold his disciples to himself possessively. A guru is for service to others and not for building up possessions, power and prestige for himself ."
(Taken from My Master, p. 28, chapter "Tolerance" - Chariji)
"....So I repeat, the Guru is the only friend. In fact, I have said this so often, that in the Sufi philosophy, the Guru is called Friend. "The Friend is coming". Because he is the only fellow who can give his life for you. He is the only fellow, therefore, to whom you must hand over totally, a Power of Attorney....."Do with me as you think I deserve to be done with. Kick me when I have to be kicked. Beat me when I have to be beaten. Curse me when I have to be cursed. But make of me what you think I should be eventually, because only you can do it."
"So once more I say this in all humility....if you must have a Master, find a fellow who is capable of, you know, throwing you around, beating you up, cutting you to pieces. Remember Parushurama's father and the stern test that young boy had to make for obedience...."Kill your Mother". "Yes"..."
"He pulled out the sword and cut off her head. He said, "I am pleased with you my son. Ask for anything you want." He said, "I want my mother alive." And He said, "So be it." and she got up and walked off. The Guru is the Master, when you say of destiny, it means life and death. He must be the Master of your life as he must be the Master of your death." (From Heart of the Lion, Shri Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari-see references)
Chari has repeatedly asked people not to stop calling him "Master" or referring to him as such.
In his "Heart to Heart - Vol.l" by P. Rajagopalachari. (Pages 270-280 "Who is a Master?") 1st Edition 1988 - Published by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Pacific Grove, CA, USA.
"But some people persist in addressing me as "Master". I have been annoyed by this practice myself..I have never claimed to be a Master..It is unfortunate that some people ..are addressing me by that term.So in fact, the purpose of my talk is to request all of you to stop addressing me as Master."
=== On freedom ===
On '''freedom''', in Salient Points of Sahaj Marg, it states that with Sahaj Marg, abhyasis have voluntarily, whole-heartedly and devotedly surrendered it to the Master of their Soul. To those who are fortunate enough to arrive at this stage, the Master is apparently no longer a guide for spirituality alone. He has now become the Master of the abhyasis' life in all it's aspects of existence. He apparently has become the father, the mother, the son, the teacher, the doctor, in fact, there is no role that He does not play in the abhyasi's life. He has taken total charge of the abhyasi. It further states that only the surrendering to Him can bring about a state where He can take total charge of the abhyasis! (From Salient Features of Sahaj Marg - Series 2- Page 26 See references)
=== On homosexuality ===
On '''homosexuality''', the Master (please see referenced note - Chari requests all to stop addressing him as Master)of this system in a recent speech said that unlike the churches of the world, Sahaj Marg does not perform same-sex marriages. "That is unnatural", he said. God did not intend it to be thus, he added. He then said it was a personal comment. But there are things credited to Babuji Maharaj “If God did not want two sexes, he could have as well created one and seen that the world propagated by itself."...Why two sexes? he questioned. Apparently not so that one sex should marry among themselves, according to Sahaj Marg Masters. "So, what the church may allow, I don’t have to condone or accept", he said, not mentionning what churches condones or performs same-sex marriages. "To me", Chariji said, "it is a very blatant misuse of so-called privileges of the human being, fundamental rights, et cetera. Of course, if you claim it is your fundamental right to go the dogs, so be it! Even God cannot stop it.
See references: Speech by Chariji "Balance-The Crux of Life" Jan 20, 2006 in Malaysia [http://www.srcm.org/literature/recent.speeches/060120_Malaysia.jsp]
=== On philosophy ===
On the '''philosophy''' of Sahaj Marg, in a speech on New Year's Day, 2005
at Babuji Memorial Ashram, Manapakkam, India, according to Chariji, there is no room for philosophy in speeches of Sahaj Marg. In fact, he stated, "Sahaj Marg has no philosophy. It does not rest on any philosophy. It is neither advaita nor dvaita nor vishishta advaita." (From Speech by Shri Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari -Jan 1, 2005 at Babuji Memorial Ashram, Manapakkam, India- see references)
On the other hand, the founder of the Shri Ram Chandra Mision, Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur, affectionately known as "Babuji", wrote the book: "SAHAJ MARG PHILOSOPHY", first published by the Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Shahjahanpur, in 1969.
=== Be like lions ===
'''Be like lions:''' Sahaj Marg wants the abhyasis to be like lions:
The abhyasi is asked to look within. Look to the Heart. Build your heart, they are told. Make it brave, make it strong, make it courageous. They are asked to be lions, as Babuji wanted, he exhorts. He said: "One lion is worth more that five hundred sheep." It is not that we do not accept sheep but we accept sheep who are willing to become lions, not sheep who want to stay on as sheep.......And what was but a shepherd's pen has now become the jungle in which the lions roam freely. This is what Sahaj Marg is setting out to achieve, according to Babuji.
".....He wanted our hearts to be like lions - brave, courageous, capable of discrimination, able to give up everything for the sake of the Master." (From Salient Points of Sahaj Marg, Series 2-Page 21 see references)
=== On idolatry ===
On '''idolatry''', the Sahaj Marg material states:
"Sahaj Marg has nowhere said temple worship is wrong, nor does Master expressly forbid idol worship" ....To abhyasis, the preceptor, apparently, becomes such an idol. The author states: "I believe that any abhyasi who says, "my preceptor" when talking about the preceptor who is serving him has fallen into this form of idol worship." It appears that there is concern that the preceptor can be transformed into an idol, or idolised. The author follows: "Here again the Master may be in the background, but is that Master's rightful place?"
"So Master's message is quite clear. All credit goes to our Master. When we give credit where it is not due, that too is a form of idol worship. We should beware of falling into such errors......." ("Salient Features of Sahaj Marg" (SMRI Series 3) Page 52-53 see references)
=== On donations ===
On '''donations''', the abhyasis is to think that it is their Mission, it is their Master, it is His plant, therefore, it is theirs, then, apparently, there is no sacrifice, there is no giving. The abhyasis are only watering their own plant. Who should they credit for it, is the question asked by the Master.
To think that the Master depends on the abhyasis' donation could very possibly be a sin, according to the Master. Masters exist in a dimension where money does not play a part. Whenever the Master makes the abhyasis donate something, he apparently does so as to lighten their burdens. Their contribution to the Master's work is apparently of the same proportion as the squirrel's contribution to Lord Rama's work. (from Salient Points of Sahaj Marg Series 3- Page 25 See references)
According to SRCM Shahjahanpur, registered in India, this statement about donations is not part of the original teachings of Sahaj Marg and does not exist in the original tenets or philosophy of Sahaj Marg, nor can it be considered to be in any way in the spirit of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission, or of its founder Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur (affectionately known as Babuji), nor that of his Master, Shri Ram Chandra of Fategarh (Lalaji).
See references-Books by Shri Ram Chandra (Babuji) including: "Some Important Features of Sahaj Marg", "The Efficacy of Raja Yoga in the Light of Sahaj Marg", "Towards Infinity", "Reality at Dawn" etc. All published by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, U.P., India.
See also: "Truth Eternal" - the original writings of Samarth Guru Shri Ram Chandra Maharaj of Fategarh, U.P. First edition published 1973 by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, U.P., India.
=== On democracy ===
On '''democracy''', the current Master, Chariji (see referenced note - Chari has requested that all stop addressing him as Master) stated that until there are no walls, one cannot say, "We're a free people," because, according to Chariji, we are only selecting the people we will accept. According to him, democracy is like a club, a select club, a rich man's club, a club of power. According to Chariji, because any organisation, including a democracy, has the power of accepting or rejecting, we can't say it is a free organisation? "Yes or no?" he asked. "No", he replied.
Chariji claimed that Sahaj Marg has no such restriction. Everybody, from anywhere in the world is welcome. According to Chariji, everybody can come, everybody can go. Apparently, there are no restrictions. There are no fees. There are no restriction of education. "Is it a free organisation?", he asked. "Is it human? Is it the real democracy of a free people, for a free people, by a free people? Yes or no?" (Audience: "Yes.")"
Then Chari stated: "So Sahaj Marg is today, in my opinion, the only organisation in this world fulfilling the requirements of this definition of "Liberté, egalité, fraternité" [Freedom, equality, fraternity]. Vive le Sahaj Marg! [Long live Sahaj Marg!] (applause)." (from Shri P. Rajagopalachari at Cossonay, Switzerland on July 13, 2003-see references)
==European headquarters==
The European headquarters were at Augerans Castle (old Peugeot Castle), near the small village of Dole in France but there were problems around land use, which, according to report in the local media, included the large number of people taking part at events. (see references) The issue of "obedience" of civil servants to a foreign national and subsequent court cases and reports by committees of the French government finally soured the atmosphere between the Shri Ram Chandra Mission and the local population and the French government. (see referenes)
The European headquarters of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission has now moved to the Vrads Sande Castle in Denmark.[http://www.srcm.org/srcminfo/servlet/CenterTree?ViewAshramInfo=1&NodeId=364] Along with the controversies, there has been some concerns and discontentment among some European and North American abhyasis with the Management of the Mission. (See refererences to European Blogs below and read testimonials and comments by abhyasis and preceptors).
In 1995 a report by a French Government Committee called "Report Made In The Name Of The Board Of Inquiry Into Cults" included the Shri Ram Chandra Mission on a list of 189 groups.[http://www.cftf.com/french/Les_Sectes_en_France/cults.html] The Miviludes Report to the Prime Minister in 2003 called the "Interministerial Mission of Vigilance & Combat against Sectarian Aberrations" also mentions the Shri Ram Chandra Mission.[http://www.miviludes.org/IMG/pdf/Report_MIVILUDES_2003.pdf]
== North American headquarters==
The Canadian Headquarters of the Mission is in North York, Ontario and in the United States, the Shri Ram Chandra Mission is registered in San Luis Obispo, California and the research arm of the Mission, the Sahaj Marg Research and Teaching Institute SMRTI is registered in Austin, Texas.
==Activities==
There are a range of activities that the organization engages in:
*[http://www.spiritualityfoundation.org/welcome/smsf.html Sahaj Marg Spirituality Foundation]is a nonprofit association organized pursuant to the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act. Among other things, it funds scholarships for people wishing to visit India to [http://sahajmarg.org/welcome/crest/CREST_Inaugural_circular.pdf study spirituality], providing those without means with air ticket, shelter and food in one of the training centers specifically set up for this purpose. These are residential courses that claim to follow the ancient Indian "gurukula" system of education involving a spartan setting.
*Every year on [[July 24]], SRCM organizes a gathering in the form of the Master's birthday celebration. Every year, a new town is selected and everyone is invited to attend. Because the Masters of Sahaj Marg have discussed at length, the significance of Mission gatherings to the abhyasis spiritual growth, all abhyasis are strongly encouraged by their peers and preceptors to attend. Similar gatherings are held for Lalaji and Babuji's birth anniversaries.
*[http://www.omegaschools.org/news_inauguration.htm Lalaji Memorial Omega School], managed by the Baal Vatika Educational Society, with Shri Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari as executive trustee. The Baal Vatika Educational Society accepts and manages funds for the School, which is located in Chennai, India and operates as a private school.
*Shri Ram Chandra Mission is part of the [[Ngo|NGO]] network and is listed as a non-governmental non-profit organization that works in support of the public good and fulfills the principles outlined in the United Nations.
*Value-Based Spiritual Education course materials have been developed.
*[http://sahajmarg.org/smrti/rc/studygrp/index.html Study groups], seminars for practitioners and the youth, school curriculum K-12 etc.
*The Mission participates in the relief activities during selected times of natural calamities by either collecting money and routing it through the Prime Minister's Relief fund or through other organizations involved in the operations.
*In some Ashrams there is also [http://www.srcm.org/members/forms/guidelines.pdf free medical assistance] provided to abhyasis.
*Donations also fund scholarships that allow practitioners who can't afford to travel to India, to spend some time in one of the [http://sahajmarg.org/smrti/scholarship/index.html ashrams].
*Donations are also used to purchase land and property for ashram.
*Donations are also used for travel and lodging of Master and people surrounding Master as and when they visit various locations.
*Other modes of raising money is by sale of Mission books and CDs to members.
==Books & References==
* [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/smsf.html SMRTI - Sahaj Marg Research and Training Institute]
* [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/smsf.html SMSF - Sahaj Marg Spirituality Foundation]
* [http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/who_can_be.html SRCM Shahjahanpur-Babuji's Grandson, Navneet Kumar's site]
* [http://naqshmumraif.googlepages.com/chiraggohil Golden Delicious Chain of Naqshbandiya Mujaddadia Mazahariya Ramchandriya-Naqsh MuMRa]
* Yogis in silence - The Great Sufi Masters by R.K.Gupta [Published by BRPC Ltd., India]
* Sufism Beyond Religion by R.K.Gupta [Published by BRPC Ltd., India]
* The Science and Philosophy of Spirituality by R.K.Gupta [Published by BRPC Ltd., India]
* Prem Pravartak Sufi (in Hindi) by R.K.Gupta [Published by BRPC Ltd., India]
* Sufi Santmat - Darshan aur Vigyan (in Hindi) by R.K.Gupta [Published by BRPC Ltd., India]
* Historique d'une succession divine GEMPPI n°66, [[19 May]] [[2005]]
* La justice contre la presse-Le Matin, [[8 February]] [[2004]]
* Augerans: la vente du château se précise-Le Progrès du Jura, [[23 January]] [[2003]]
* L'aménagement du château d'Augerans se précise-Le Progrès du Jura, [[26 March]] [[2003]]
* Gourou et politique: "Ça ne vous regarde pas!"-Le Matin, [[6 May]] [[2001]] par Olivier Grivat
* Une secte apocalyptique s'installe au coeur de Nice-ViaNice, February 2001
* Historique d'une succession divine [http://www.prevensectes.com/sriram8.htm GEMPPI n°66, [[19 May]] [[2005]]]
* [http://www.prevensectes.com/shriram.htm Prevente Sectes]
* Le juge et le Gourou La Dépêche du Jura du [[5 November]] [[1996]]
* La secte Shri Ram Chandra Mission déménage de son château, [http://www.afp.fr/english/home/ AFP] [[23 November]] [[2001]]
* [http://permanent.nouvelobs.com/ Le Nouvel Obs], n°1861, semaine du [[6 July]] [[2000]], par Hubert Prolongeau
* Augerans ou comment s'implanter dans une commune [http://membres.lycos.fr/mielk/augerans.html Mielk],-le novembre 2001
* Transcript of video of talk by Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari at Satkhol Airport [[29 January]] [[2001]].
* [http://www.srcm.org/literature/articles/EvolutionSMFromYoga.jsp Evolution Of Sahaj Marg From Vedic And Yogic Practices by Dr. KS Balasubramaniam]
* [http://www.sahajmarg.org/welcome/masters/babuji-more.html Babuji from SMRTI]
* [http://naqshmumraif.googlepages.com/chiraggohil Dinesh Kumar Saxena "Laalaaji Nilayam"]
* [http://laalaajinilayam.googlepages.com/vasihatnaama Parampujya Laalaaji’s Vasihatnaama (The Will)]
* "Change and continuity in Indian Sufism" by Thomas Dahnhardt, university researcher from the Centre for Islamic Studies of Oxford University, and professor of Urdu litterature and Islamic Civilization in India, at the University of Venice, It.
* The autobiography of Ram Chandra", vol I, 1899-1932, SRCM Shahjahanpur, October 1980, 2nd edition edited by Umesh Saxena (Babuji's son)
*[http://courtnic.nic.in/supremecourt/temp/ac661900p.txt Appeal filed in Supreme Court of India]
* [http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/facts.html Circular of Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Shahjahanpur, dated 15th February 1984.]
* [http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/facts.html Minutes of the Working Committee Meeting, 6/7th February 1984 at Shahjahanpur, U.P., India.]
* [http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/facts.html Minutes of General Body Meeting (982 members present)held on 8th February 1984, at Shahjahanpur, U.P., India.]
* Video transcript at SRCM or site at: Our World from Another Dimension
* Sahaj Marg-The Living Tradition of Sahaj Marg [http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Sahaj_Marg/id/51257]
*"SOME IMPORTANT FEATURES OF SAHAJ MARG" by Shri Ram Chandra, published 1981 by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Shahjahanpur, U.P.)
* "The Efficacy of Raja Yoga in the Light of Sahaj Marg", "Towards Infinity", "Reality at Dawn" etc. All by Shri Ram Chandra and published by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, U.P., India.
* "Truth Eternal" - the original writings of Samarth Guru Shri Ram Chandra Maharaj of Fategarh, U.P. First edition published 1973 by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, U.P., India.
==Opinions of dissociated, questioning and/or ex-abhyasis:==
Author, businessman, ex-preceptor and ex-member of publishing arm of SRCM and member of "inner circle"
* [http://innercircleofsrcm.blogspot.com/ Inner Circle of SRCM- USA]
Author is a Phd Research Psychologist and a 20-year member:
* [http://spydi.blogspot.com/ Spiritual Discussion on SPIDI] (replaces "Poxy SRCM")
This is the original site on SRCMtm in Europe (group of parents of abhyasis):
* [http://membres.lycos.fr/mielk/english.html Mielk - A French Analysis- France-Fr. & Eng.]
European discussion site called "Long life SRCM" for questionning members (mostly FR):
* [http://pourquevivelesahajmarg.blogspot.com/ The Desperate Abhyasi-Europe -Fr. & some Eng.]
Author is an ex-member from India:
* [http://www.geocities.com/sha211_211/srcm.html Freedom to Speak Power to Speak]
==See also==
*[[Sahaj Marg]]
*[[List of groups referred to as cults in government reports#France ]]
==External links==
*[http://www.srcm.org Shri Ram Chandra Mission] (California Based SRCM)
*[http://www.sahajmarg.org Sahaj Marg Spirituality Foundation]
* [http://www.arb-forum.com/domains/decisions/94237.htm See domain dispute here]
*[http://www.srcmshahjahanpur.org.in/default.html Shri Ram Chandra Mission Shahjahanpur](India Based SRCM)
'''Warning against SRCM by French Government and Cult Watch groups'''
* [http://www.miviludes.org/IMG/pdf/Report_MIVILUDES_2003.pdf Report Submitted to Prime Minister of France] Refer to page 81, of the document. Also footnote 24 and 25
* [http://www.cftf.com/french/Les_Sectes_en_France/cults.html French NATIONAL ASSEMBLY Report](Ref: Cult movement's with 2000 to 10000 followers)
* [http://www.anti-scientologie.ch/liens-bookmarks.htm Warning by French Cult watch group]
* [http://www.prevensectes.com/shriram.htm Prevent Sect group warning]
* [http://www.unadfi.com/spip.php?article340 UNADFI comments on SRCM and similar groups]
* [http://www.icsahome.com International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)] Search for Ram Chandra Misison Chari group
'''Websites of Associations and Institutions with similar lineage as Shri Ram Chandra Mission:'''
* [http://www.sriramchandra.org/ Insitute for Ram Chandra Consciousness (ISRC)]
* [http://www.yogabhyas.org/default.htm Yogabhyas]
* [http://www.ramashram.com/ Ramashram- Guru Maharaj, Dr. Chaturbhuj Sahay Ji]
* [http://www.geocities.com/sufisaints/ Sufism in India and Naqsh MuMRa by Dr. RK Gupta]
* [http://naqshmumraif.googlepages.com/chiraggohil "Laalaaji Nilayam" Golden Chain (Lalaji's Family]
* [http://laalaajinilayam.googlepages.com/vasihatnaama Parampujya Laalaaji’s Vasihatnaama Lalaji's Will]
* [http://www.abssatsang.org/founder.htm ABS Satsang]
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