Indian Godman fleeces poor Indians
This piece came to us from an insider in the Kalki/Amma Oneness University maha-scam:
I have been associated with the cult of Sri Kalki Bhagavan (Vijay Kumar and his wife Padmavathi Amma), who positions himself as the Vishnu Avatar, and a God - although in recent years he has made his claims a little indirect, perhaps due to media criticism, and fear of ridicule.
I have served this cult for 2 year[s], attended their Deekshas, darshans and made large donations. I would like to bring to your notice that this cult is pressurizing its INDIAN devotees to donate large sums of wealth, if they want to remain in the good books of the disciples (dasas) who run the show, and progress further. We have even been told that if we don’t have the money we should take loans (the last case was Rs 100,000 [$2,220.50 US] which is a huge amount) , and donate the same to them. We have been told that we can repay the loans over a few years!
From the day we join we are pressurized to bring in new people and send them for the initial 3-day deeksha (costing Rs 5000 [$110 US]). This is because to qualify for the higher level we must send 60 (now 30) people for the program. First we are told that the 3-day program will enlighten us (for only Rs 5000!), then we are told - sorry the higher process will enlighten you. So we have no option but to talk others (family, friends etc) into joining and going for the 3-day program.
Once we have sent so many people, and we find no change in us, it is very difficult to step out. I have still not told my family that I have left, for loss of face. In order to convince 60 people to go, we have to exaggerate and make tall claims. We have to create a miracle out of each little incident that happened to us (such as getting a green light on the way to work) etc. We have to keep talking of unending grace, and say things like "our whole life has changed". We are all basically sincere people, but we start telling lies without realizing it, and a time comes when we are stuck.
New people are lured in by promises of unending "grace", and then after we tell them lots of stories (most of them are just heard from others, no one has any evidence of them actually happening.), then the disciples ask them to make donations, or go for paid darshans in order to get that "unending grace". These darshans are expensive and the latest one is that we can touch Amma’s feet for Rs 100,000. Prior to going for the higher process we were all told that in order for the higher process to be a great success we should make this donation. Many of us are very ordinary people, some have left our jobs to pursue a spiritual goal, so the amount is no small order.
Even the higher process (known as Mahadeeksha, for two weeks) has made no difference to anyone. Although it does seem to us, that the program for foreigners (21 days, USD 5500) has resulted in some enlightened people (such as Freddie Nielsen and Kiara Windrider - we are told by the dasas that they are enlightened), however in India there is not even an attempt at spiritual growth of devotees. It is only talk of great "celestial miracles", and enlightenment is always round the next corner, after the next darshan (read: donation).
Because of all the stories we perpetuate, the number of devotees has really gone up dramatically, each wondering when his turn for endless grace will come. They claim over 30 million devotees, although I don’t know how this figure has been computed.
Sarlo, I write this to you primarily because I am concerned that large numbers of poor and low-income people in India are being fleeced by this cult, each hoping that his string of problems will magically vanish after a darshan or deeksha. When nothing happens their suffering increases.
We actually convince ourselves that we are happier than even before for a while after the deeksha. In that short period we are pushed to recruit more people and share our great experiences with others.
The experiences we narrate are always the tales we were told by the disciples about others who got great grace.
Hello!
I just want to say thanks for letting the truth come out. I also have a personal reflection about this.
I have never been part of the group around Kalki & Co. However, I know a lot of people who have been involved and who know you and who have been really been “turned on” by the whole deeksha idea – for that is how I see it, people get “high” and they want quick solutions. They say one thing but do something else; for instance speaking about solidarity but not minding getting rich on it at the same time.
The Kalki Movement also makes use of people who often live in anguish, who are so desperate that they don’t mind paying, even a lot; unfortunately there are no quick fixes for spiritual destitution/pain.
However, this is not something that only concerns the Kalki Movement. In a way this is what happens all the time, in different forms. People all too often look for strong leaders, to help them “escape” from their own struggles in taking responsibility for their own lives.
It is terrifying to see how many people are standing in the line to take over and tell others the right thing to do. Often they do it just in the same way as Kalki – by using both “carrot & whip” – giving so called “love” with one hand and frightening and threatening with the other – it’s the same method people use when brainwashing people.
In Kalki circles they call themselves “enlightened”, telling others they know better. They surround themselves with “Yes-sayers”. They build up hierarchies around themselves, themselves being in the top; creating shame in those who ask complicated questions. They exclude those who still try having their own thoughts, often by telling them that they are not enlightened – or by asking them to leave the room.
This is the same way any dictator’s mind works. You can exchange the word enlightened with words such as “not good enough”, “communist/non-communist” etc.
I wish that my reaction against Kalki doesn’t remain as criticism merely against Kalki & Co; it pertains to the entire principle of choosing and following strong leaders.
We need more people, at least here in Sweden, with strong integrity, who are not afraid of following their own path, in true solidarity with all other living beings, including Mother Earth who is in big grief at the moment.
It’s very dangerous to let us be lead by those “strong” leaders (inside they are very, very weak); because they are often people who love power so much that they “forget” considering what’s best for all of us.
It’s very dangerous to raise our children listening to strong leaders. We should not forget about Hitler and others similar to him.
The best way of preventing any catastrophe like that to appear again is to activate all people who passively are sitting there and letting others decide.
Keep up your good work!
C.R
Comment by CR. — June 15, 2007 @ 4:53 am
Hi i have a lot of confidential information to share, but am scared to go public. sunyata please give me your e-mail id so that i can tell you in private
Comment by I.R — July 24, 2007 @ 1:19 pm
Why not put your information in comments here itself. Comments will not reveal your identity.
Comment by Administrator — July 24, 2007 @ 3:32 pm