Story of a Con Man: MARSHALL GOVINDAN (aka Satchidananda); Babaji's Kriya Yoga

Re: Story of a Con Man: MARSHALL GOVINDAN (aka Satchidananda); Babaji's Kriya Yoga

feeds@yuku.com (Yogi Bill) — Tue, 27 May 2008 12:21:12 GMT

GOVINDAN ON SHAKTIPAT

Here is Govindan's interesting view on shaktipat: "Several past and present "masters"
from India have succeeded in
attracting a lot of attention and followe
rs to themselves by pro m i s i n g
to give what is sometimes referred
to as "shaktipat," or the tra n s m i ssion
of energy resulting in altere d
s tates of consciousness. Swa m i [deleted]
and Yogi [deleted] are two examples of those who...

Re: Story of a Con Man: MARSHALL GOVINDAN (aka Satchidananda); Babaji's Kriya Yoga

feeds@yuku.com (Yogi Bill) — Tue, 27 May 2008 12:14:41 GMT

The dangerous hatha poses galaxy666 asked about--well the one that injured me was when you put all your weight on the top of your head, which is on the floor--your feet are also on the floor and your rear end is in the air. Hurt my back pretty badly doing that one. I don't know which asana injured the other injured person I specifically know about (someone in Singapore). I just heard a report that one of the asanas taught by Govindan had injured him.

Re: Story of a Con Man: MARSHALL GOVINDAN (aka Satchidananda); Babaji's Kriya Yoga

feeds@yuku.com (galaxy666) — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 18:27:09 GMT

What were the hatha poses that Gopherdan suggested? I saw his ads years ago, where he professed to have been ordained by Babaji to initiate people into kriya yoga. That was the tip off that he was off his rocker and in some demonic illusion.
To the credit of SRF, the lesson series of Yogananda's is nominally priced and his books are also very affordable.

Re: Story of a Con Man: MARSHALL GOVINDAN (aka Satchidananda); Babaji's Kriya Yoga

feeds@yuku.com (Yogi Bill) — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 17:26:04 GMT

Something I have forgotten to mention above is that several people, including myself, have been injured doing advanced hatha yoga practices taught by Govindan, yet he continues to teach them without giving proper warnings. He thus recklessly disregards the safety of others.

In addition, my experience with Govindan has been that he has in general a callous lack of concern for the feelings of others. He is (and I have given examples above) in the habit of repeatedly lying and conning...

Re: Story of a Con Man: MARSHALL GOVINDAN (aka Satchidananda); Babaji's Kriya Yoga

feeds@yuku.com (Yogi Bill) — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 07:47:07 GMT

Some of Govindans previously unpublished remarks on sex are interesting and worth considering:

(1) Govindan believes we should be moderate in sexual activity. "Moderation means the cultivation of calm awareness during all activities....If you are just indulging in sex for the pleasure of it, then this is a lack of moderation. If you are suppressing sexual desire, but cultivating fantasy and desire for sex, then this too is a lack of moderation. Cultivate the middle path of...

Re: Story of a Con Man: MARSHALL GOVINDAN (aka Satchidananda); Babaji's Kriya Yoga

feeds@yuku.com (redpurusha) — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 22:07:20 GMT

Yogi Bill, I haven't posted here in years but thanks for the insider info on Govindan - may help some people on the path reading your experiences. I wondered myself about this organization when I first learned of Kriya. It was one of several which promoted it online and in book stores. I had the misfortune to waste some money on a handful of books by Govindan. I found them to be very poor quality of writing, and ultimately couldn't read them -then couldn't sell them on ebay years later. I...

Re: Story of a Con Man: MARSHALL GOVINDAN (aka Satchidananda); Babaji's Kriya Yoga

feeds@yuku.com (Yogi Bill) — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 09:09:54 GMT

My experience with the Grace Course (see above) reminded me of Govindans appeals for money for nonexistent causes, e.g., an "ashram" in Sri Lanka which never existed. There was some friend of Govindans in Sri Lanka, who may have needed money, but no ashram. Govindan ought to have just said there was this guy in Sri Lanka who needed money, instead of saying "our ashram in Sri Lanka" needed money. Govindan also talked about a nonexistent ashram he supposedly had in Germany....

Re: Story of a Con Man: MARSHALL GOVINDAN (aka Satchidananda); Babaji's Kriya Yoga

feeds@yuku.com (Yogi Bill) — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 08:32:31 GMT

Many people think spiritual teachers should follow the example of employers and keep their spouses and lovers out of positions of authority. I agree. Govindan has allowed his wife to take over a very large share of the teaching work he used to do himself. I think she is out of her league and owes her new authority to the mere fact that she is married to Govindan. Indeed, people would assume such things even if she were--contrary to fact--competent to do all the teaching he has assigned to...

Re: Story of a Con Man: MARSHALL GOVINDAN (aka Satchidananda); Babaji's Kriya Yoga

feeds@yuku.com (Yogi Bill) — Thu, 31 May 2007 06:03:57 GMT

"Babaji's Kriya Yoga" is now taught by Marshall Govindan and his assistants around the world. It is an expensive three-part series of classes on kriya yoga supposedly taught originally by Babaji himself to Yogi Ramaiah, who taught them to Govindan.

Marshall Govindan (whom I know personally) doesn't even believe in Babaji--he merely uses the Babaji tale (about a 2000-year-old yogi who supposedly lives near Badrinath, India, but who can't be seen by PHYSICAL eyes) to promote...

Re: Story of a Con Man: MARSHALL GOVINDAN (aka Satchidananda); Babaji's Kriya Yoga

feeds@yuku.com (prssmd) — Wed, 28 Jan 2004 05:31:36 GMT

Re: Story of a Con Man: MARSHALL GOVINDAN (aka Satchidananda); Babaji's Kriya Yoga

feeds@yuku.com (prssmd) — Thu, 23 Oct 2003 12:07:26 GMT

etzchaim writes, in response to a posting that I put up, `prssmd, I've been thinking along the same line with Elijah. Unfortunately, your posting doesnt make much sense without my posting, to which you are replying. My posting was deleted by the SRF Walrus CENSOR. Obviously, the Censor deleted my posting because the Censor didnt agree with my opinions, not because of the content or topic. Unless the Censor starts behaving reasonably, these discussions arent going to make very much sense.

Re: Story of a Con Man: MARSHALL GOVINDAN (aka Satchidananda); Babaji's Kriya Yoga

feeds@yuku.com (etzchaim) — Tue, 09 Sep 2003 07:39:44 GMT

Well, by this time, I'm assuming I've either irritated or bored, or possibly both, most people, by my arguments, so in conclusion, this is what I've decided.

John the Babtist was most likely part of the Essene group, though only quasi-monastic and not as hung up on the purity laws, so that he interacted with the 'common' people more. He influenced Jesus, who was also influenced by the Hillel Pharisees.

Jesus does not appear to have been solidly in any group, but pulling from...

Re: Story of a Con Man: MARSHALL GOVINDAN (aka Satchidananda); Babaji's Kriya Yoga

feeds@yuku.com (etzchaim) — Mon, 08 Sep 2003 09:58:27 GMT

Stermejo, thanks for the correction about who was the student of Gamliel.

On the other hand, he saying: "Love thy neighbor as I have loved you" is a remake of Rabbi Hillel's "Love thy neighbor as you love yourself". Since the Pharisees that Jesus is arguing with in the NT are much stricter than the Pharisees of today, and there were two 'camps' of Pharisees, one called the "House of Shammai" (the stricter) and one called the "House of Hilled",...

Re: Story of a Con Man: MARSHALL GOVINDAN (aka Satchidananda); Babaji's Kriya Yoga

feeds@yuku.com (stermejo) — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 19:35:32 GMT

Wow this is quite a thread!

May I comment breifly on a few points?

"And this is what? Sound theology and history?"

I don't think DR understands the scholarly processes. NBD (no big deal). Really, it just for scholars and interested parties:-) Makes good reading. It should not be confused with new age understandings. The two are separate entities.

Paul (not God) has spoken! Anyone who studies Christianity holds this opinion; Without Paul the religion...

Re: Story of a Con Man: MARSHALL GOVINDAN (aka Satchidananda); Babaji's Kriya Yoga

feeds@yuku.com (etzchaim) — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 04:50:48 GMT

Gershom Sholem argued that Kabbalah derived from Gnosticism. The current holder of the Gershom Sholem Chair at the Hebrew Univerisity is Joseph Dan. He and other scholars have refuted Sholem's thesis.

I personally don't think that anything grows in a vacuum and it isn't difficult to see the Egyptian, Babylonian and Cana'anite influences in the Torah. Maimonides brother, David, was a Merchant Shipman in the 11th century and traded with the Jewish community in Cochin, India. This...

Re: Story of a Con Man: MARSHALL GOVINDAN (aka Satchidananda); Babaji's Kriya Yoga

feeds@yuku.com (prssmd) — Thu, 04 Sep 2003 23:06:07 GMT

Im interested in knowing whether Jewish belief in reincarnation and karma (or meritin the Jewish version) derives from non-Jewish sources. According to one encyclopedia Ive looked at, the Kabbalah as a whole derives from non-Jewish sources. It would be interesting if it turned out to ultimately derive from Hindu yogic sources.

Re: Story of a Con Man: MARSHALL GOVINDAN (aka Satchidananda); Babaji's Kriya Yoga

feeds@yuku.com (dawnrays(d)) — Thu, 04 Sep 2003 13:17:02 GMT

Well, I thought of some things to say but I'm too tired to continue this right now (maybe later). I need a few days off and I know you need to get back to work.

Good Luck moving and unpacking (stressful).

Hope your asthma gets better soon.

Remember to take some mint tea (good for nerves).

Shanti,

dawnrays (Lisa)

Re: Story of a Con Man: MARSHALL GOVINDAN (aka Satchidananda); Babaji's Kriya Yoga

feeds@yuku.com (etzchaim) — Thu, 04 Sep 2003 12:38:07 GMT

Honestly, Dawnrays, I was just presenting the traditional views to bring some perspective into the discussion. If you actually read the explanation that Abulafia provides about "moshiach", Jesus is indeed a moshiach.

I'm not much on Edgar Cayce, so I have nothing to say about him.

I'm in no way comparing Jesus to Hitler, and please stop trying to imply that I am. I was merely pointing out that people tend to be drawn to violent things that they can relate their...

Re: Story of a Con Man: MARSHALL GOVINDAN (aka Satchidananda); Babaji's Kriya Yoga

feeds@yuku.com (dawnrays(d)) — Thu, 04 Sep 2003 11:27:41 GMT

Well, and I am very proud of that. I guess I consider myself a New Age Christian or a Christian Yogi or a Hindu Christian or whatever...

I know you don't like Edgar Cayce, but many people do put a lot of faith into what he has said, mainly because of the accuracy of his remedies and readings. He has never been disproven as far as I know. He was asked at one time why the Essenes weren't mention more often in the New Testament and he replied that it was because "they were doing...

Re: Story of a Con Man: MARSHALL GOVINDAN (aka Satchidananda); Babaji's Kriya Yoga

feeds@yuku.com (etzchaim) — Thu, 04 Sep 2003 10:35:33 GMT

Reincarnation is discussed in the Talmud. It is not an Essene doctrine, but a more universal Jewish belief that is still prevelent among religious Jews and I'm talking about the whole spectrum of "religious" Jew, including the spiritual ones. It's called Gilgul, as I keep pointing out. It never left Judaism. It was a central teaching of Isaac Luria, who was not an Essene, and not Ancient, but lived during the Renaissance. The Chasidim believe in it and anyone who is at all...

Story of a Con Man: MARSHALL GOVINDAN (aka Satchidananda); Babaji's Kriya Yoga

feeds@yuku.com (prssmd) — Thu, 14 Aug 2003 18:01:32 GMT