Concerning Passionate Journeys and Spiritual Autobiographies

[sparrowhawk]

The following is a quote from "Passionate Journey: The Spiritual Autobiography of Satomi Myodo."

" When I think of certain famous persons over whom everyone makes a fuss, such as the founders of certain religions (i.e. the New Religions), I am appalled. When, in their practice of austerities, some abnormal phenomena arise in body or mind, they get carried away. They settle down in this condition and get the idea into their heads that ' This the Supreme Way of Heaven-and-Earth!' There are even cases of people who affect, 'In all the universe, I alone am to be revered!' Isn't it really a matter of regret and chagrin that a human being can claim to be the spiritual leader of all existence?"

Sounds all too familiar doesn't it? Kabir Helminski, one of the leading exponents of Sufism in America states in his book "The Knowing Heart" that it is possible to acheive something like "a hothouse enlightenment". That is certain people may develop extraordinary spiritual capabilities, but you wouldn't leave such a person alone with your children to babysit them.
Such "hothouse enlightenment" does not insure that such a one's moral an ethical development is commesurate with their spiritual advancement. It would seem fair to suggest then that Adi Da has been sitting in his private hothouses in Fiji, Hawaii and Northern California for the last 30 plus years. Even Ken Wilbur has criticized Da for not daring to emerge from seclusion and entering into public discussion with other spiritual leaders. If Da is the once and for all completing adept of Mankind what does he stand to lose?

Is it not then indeed " a matter of regret and chagrin" that this man claims to be "the spiritual leader of all existence"? What a ridiculous an absurd idea. Would it have even occured to someone like Ramakrishna or Nityananda to make such a claim? More likely they would have burst out laughing at such a conceit. Who would dare to put a glass cealing on humanity's spiritual potential? Why would anyone want to say, " Higher than this one cannot go," ? In fact Rudi, Da's first teacher, warned explicitly of belonging to any organization that made such a claim.

Cheers to One an All~