SOUL LOSS #5

Loss From the following (when the soul separates 

totally from the body)

 

Severe abuse, illness.

Trauma, violence, war.

Isolation and severe loneliness.

"Sex, drugs, rock and roll."

Other addictions.

Satanism, violent militaristic cults and gangs.

The dark side of the Church, other religions and gurus.

Despotic leaders.

Musicians (notably Heavy Metal - next blog.)

Witchcraft, sorcery, intrusive spirits, energetic pollution.

Any or all of these can cause soul loss and even allow for  possession by dark spirits.

 

Soul loss often follows the unmitigated greed and need for power that we see in autocratic leaders and others.

 

Given full power greed becomes an enslaver of the greedy - fear becomes first a bully, then a torturer and then a killer. 

 

"Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Sir John Dalberg-Acton 

 

“Nearly all men can stand adversity but if you want to test a man’s character give him power.” A. Lincoln

 

Power and greed can lead to malignant compulsions, desires and impulses, malice and the desire to wreak vengeance and retribution on any naysayers and those who oppose them. 

 

Spiritual and Religious Leaders 

To whom much is given much is required. 

(in terms of integrity and the laws of karma. )

Spiritual and religious leaders, gurus and priests can be the perpetrators. Gurus that came from the East “fell” on account of easy money, devoted followers and the ease with which they could exploit their women and men devotees - the women often sexually. There are many and the list below goes on. Because of their spiritual status and knowledge, it is even more reprehensible since these people should be held to a highest standard. 

To mention only a few of the worst.

Bikram Choudhury, founder of Bikram Yoga. 

Dr. Kausthub Desikachar.

Da Free John.

Amrit Desai. 

Sathya Sai Baba. 

Chögyam Trungpa, and Ösel Tendzin. (his student.) 

John of God. 

Their methods of manipulation and behavior were often quite diabolical.

Osho – Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh was probably the most notorious of these and invoked most of the methods below:

Sexual promiscuity (even pimping on behalf of the guru.) This was exploited as a remedy for releasing the students’ attachments and fears around sex. Hypocrisy ran rampant. The guru engaged “altruistically” and was officially “celibate” but doing this selfless service for the sake of the devotee. Those selected felt special and competition for the selection arose resulting in corruption and power-play. 

Self-abuse with drug use was acceptable because the guru was beyond the material. “The vehicle or body will be released” when he exits to the causal enlightened realm. 

The guru was totally unattached to all the wealth and extravagance that accumulated – it meant nothing to him but yet there were hidden bank accounts, private planes, boats and exotic cars. 

The intimidation and even weaponization practiced was essential to protect the cult from jealous and uninformed outsiders outside the ashram. Devotees were told not to communicate with anyone outside the ashram because those outside would not be able to understand their sophisticated level of enlightenment.

This environment created a group/cult “hypnosis,” a sense of community - they were are all in it together for the sake of a higher purpose. Even for the skeptical it was better to be there than to leave since there was a sense of belonging, community and security.  Those that tried to leave would be threatened with material and spiritual bankruptcy, doom and gloom if they left the fold.

Complete surrender and trust were essential for the instruction to work. To Self-realize one had to also release all that one knew and accept certain things that seemed abhorrent. This was essential and   necessary for the mission. Abuse and dogma were accepted as a part of the lesson. 

Only the guru had the ability to channel privileged information from a higher source. It required tremendous sacrifice to do this.

Dreaming him was a good sign that one was on the path. In reality the guru may have had the spiritual power to script and manipulate the devotee through the dream time as well as in real time.

The warning signs were obvious but easily subordinated to intimidation and the guru’s charisma and knowledge. These included:

Not talking truth to power – do as I say not as I do. An obvious attachment to all the things the guru told his students had to be released - ego, power, persona, pride, money and material “stuff.”  Hypocrisy was the order of the day associated with a lack of love and humor both antithetical to the spiritual path. In short the guru revelled in being, 

“A sage on a stage rather than a guide from the side,” instead of the desired opposite.

The tenets should have been:

Subordination of ego to the Higher Self. Compassion instead of judgement. Leading with humility, love and humor. Talking truth to power. Maintaining trust. Assuring safety. Pursuing spiritual excellence for all rather than power for oneself. Celebrating the myriad of differences and talents in all devotees and not playing favorites. Strengthening bonds. Encouraging asking for help. Not demeaning those less capable and even giving them more attention. Assuring equanimity wholeness, health and balance. Seeing the divinity in all the spiritual seekers.