I am a former SRF-monastic. Lived at Mother Center and the other ashrams for more than a decade.
Raja Begum's observations and analogies with fascism are brilliant: "How the SRF experience holds our thinking hostage".
Yes, I see how it aligns with fascism. The experience, especially the SRF group or temple services, are highly scripted, choreographed for maximum theatrical and emotional effect. Convocations and guru's birthdays are sort of twisted, spiritual Nuremberg Rally. How timely, given the recent upswing in nationalism and abdication of leadership to psychopathic, egomaniacal leaders who prey on victims' self-doubts, financial and psychological insecurities.
One correction I'd make to Raja's essay--
"PSEUDO-RELIGIOUS IDEAL".
No! Not, Pseudo-religious! SRF is an actual-religious ideology. What does it matter if devotees worship living or dead saints? I wouldn't call that "pseudo". SRF devotees often revere and idealize the Matas, senior disciples who had the dumb-luck to be born and join SRF while the guru-god-man Yogananda was living, breathing, and expanding in his mortal frame.
Raja Begum's observations and analogies with fascism are brilliant: "How the SRF experience holds our thinking hostage".
Yes, I see how it aligns with fascism. The experience, especially the SRF group or temple services, are highly scripted, choreographed for maximum theatrical and emotional effect. Convocations and guru's birthdays are sort of twisted, spiritual Nuremberg Rally. How timely, given the recent upswing in nationalism and abdication of leadership to psychopathic, egomaniacal leaders who prey on victims' self-doubts, financial and psychological insecurities.
One correction I'd make to Raja's essay--
"PSEUDO-RELIGIOUS IDEAL".
No! Not, Pseudo-religious! SRF is an actual-religious ideology. What does it matter if devotees worship living or dead saints? I wouldn't call that "pseudo". SRF devotees often revere and idealize the Matas, senior disciples who had the dumb-luck to be born and join SRF while the guru-god-man Yogananda was living, breathing, and expanding in his mortal frame.