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20 th Century Spiritual Leaders

20 th Century Spiritual Leaders. Part 2: Second part of the century. Today’s list. Paramahansa Yogananda and the Self-Realization movement Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and the Hare Krishna movement Sun Yung Moon and the Unification Church L . Ron Hubbard and Scientology.

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20 th Century Spiritual Leaders

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  1. 20th Century Spiritual Leaders Part 2: Second part of the century

  2. Today’s list • Paramahansa Yogananda and the Self-Realization movement • BhaktivedantaSwami Prabhupadaand the Hare Krishna movement • Sun Yung Moon and the Unification Church • L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology

  3. Paramahansa Yogananda • Born Mukunda Lal Ghosh in 1893, near Calcutta, India, to devout family • Exceptional spiritual awareness as a child • Met his guru, Swami YukteswarGiri, at age 17 – describes meeting as a rekindling of a relationship that had lasted many lifetimes • Earned a Bachelor’s degree at age 22 from college close to guru’s ashram • Took monastic vows at this time and given new name

  4. Paramahansa Yogananda • Yukteswar tells Yoganandathat he had been sent to him by Mahavatar Babajito bring Kriya Yoga to the west • Mahavatar Babaji visits Yogananda right before he leaves for the United States • Traveled to the US at age 27 (1920) and establishes Self-Realization Fellowship • Sets up headquarters in Los Angeles in 1925; lived in this area until his death • Thousands hear him speak and become followers prompting FBI to put him on watch list

  5. Self-realization aims • To teach scientific techniques for attaining direct personal experience of God • To teach that the purpose of life is the evolution, through self-effort, of man’s limited mortal consciousness into God Consciousness • To reveal the complete harmony and basic oneness of original Christianity as taught by Jesus Christ and original Yoga as taught by BhagavanKrishna • To point out the one divine highway to which all paths of true religious beliefs eventually lead

  6. Self-realization aims • To liberate man from his threefold suffering: physical disease, mental inharmonies, and spiritual ignorance • To spread a spirit of brotherhood among all peoples by teaching the eternal basis of their unity • To demonstrate the superiority of mind over body, of soul over mind • To overcome evil by good, sorrow by joy, cruelty by kindness, ignorance by wisdom

  7. Self-realization aims • To unite science and religion through realization of the unity of their underlying principles • To advocate cultural and spiritual understanding between East and West, and the exchange of their finest distinctive features • To serve mankind as one’s larger Self • To teach Kriya Yoga techniques

  8. Kriya Yoga • Mentally directs life energy to revolve, upward and downward, around the six spinal centers • Medullary, cervical, dorsal, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal plexuses • The energy in the spinal centers correspond to the twelve astral signs of the zodiac, the symbolic Cosmic Man. • One-half minute of revolution of energy around each of the sensitive spinal cord centers of man effects subtle progress in his evolution • The half-minute practices of Kriya equals one year of natural spiritual unfoldment. It brings God's love into operation in the devotee's life

  9. Autobiography of a Yogi • Autobiography of a Yogi published in 1946 • Designated as one of the “100 Most Important Spiritual Books of the 20th Century” • Steve Jobs re-read the book every year; he first read it as a teen-ager • George Harrison said he would be a “terrible person” without this book • More than 500 Self-Realization temples around the world • After Yogananda’s death the Self-Realization Fellowship has been led by a succession of women

  10. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupadaand the Hare Krishna movement • Born AbhayCharan De in Calcutta, in 1896, into devout Hindu family • Graduated from European led college in 1920 • Refused diploma in support of Ghandi’s independence movement • Married at age 22 • Wife was 11 at time • Wife gave birth to first child at age 14 • Age 26 met his spiritual master Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura

  11. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and the Hare Krishna movement • Age 37 became an initiate of his master • Age 48 wrote, edited, designed, published, and distributed his first book • Given first title “Bhaktivedanta” in 1947, age 53; Second title in 1967 • Still owned a pharmaceutical business at age 54 • Vow of renunciation at age 63; devoted to full-time writing • Founded ISKCON – International Society for Krishna Consciousness in 1966

  12. Hare Krishna movement • Began 500 years ago by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, considered by the movement to be an incarnation of Krishna • Goal is to preach the way of Bhakti, or love of God • The essential scripture for the movementis the 5000-year-old Bhagavad Gita • Other names for the movement” • Gaudiya Vaishnavism • Chaitanya Vaishnavism • Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiyasampradaya

  13. Hare Krishna practices & beliefs • Chanting of Radhaand Krishna's holy names, such as "Hare", "Krishna" and "Rama“ • Considers itself monotheistic, all gods incarnates of one supreme God, best named Krishna • Inconceivable oneness and difference • The soul is identical to God, but the quantity differs; i.e., God’s soul is bigger • This belief bridges Hindu monism (God and soul are one) and Hindu dualism (God and the soul are separate) • Dualism evident in practice – Krishna worshipped as a Supreme person

  14. Hare Krishna practices & beliefs • Moses, Jesus, and Mohammad are empowered representatives of God with essentially the same message as Krishna • Hare Krishna (mantra) is chanted on a daily basis, sometimes for many hours each day • Lacto vegetarian diet, abstaining from all types of animal flesh, including fish and eggs • No drugs or caffiene

  15. Bhaktivedanta Spreading the word • Came to New York in1965 to fulfill promise to guru of spreading the teachings to the world • No sponsor in the US; was not met by anyone; had very limited funds • By 1967 opened up centers in New York and San Francisco and attracted a very large following • Traveled around the world over 14 times • Many temples and farms established by ISKCON • One farm in Juniata County

  16. Legacy ofA.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada • Over 60 volumes of translations classic Vedic scriptures • Founded the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust • Won praise from top scholars for their depth and clarity • Built temples all over the world • Indian government issued a commemorative stamp in his honor of his 100 birthday • Some believe his death at age 81 to be from poison • A split in the organization after his death • Lawsuit on the rights to books

  17. Sun Yung Moon & the Unification Church • Born in (North) Korea (under Japanese rule) in 1920 • Family converted to Christianity in 1923 • Vision, age 16: Jesus asks him to complete his unfinished work • Studied electrical engineering in Japan at age 21 • Excommunicated in 1946 for preaching his beliefs

  18. Sun Yung Moon & the Unification Church • Imprisoned by North Korea in 1947 for treason; served three years • Escaped and fled to South Korea in 1950 • Founded Unification Church in Seoul, South Korea in 1954 • Officially named the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity • Business - armaments, paint, machinery, and ginseng tea - flourished in early church and enabled him to spread his message

  19. Sun Yung Moon & the Unification Church • Moved his operations to the upstate New York in 1973 • Became a player in US politics; gave highly visible public speeches • Recruited youth of the counter-culture, called “Moonies” • Moonies sold candles and flowers to support the church • Lived in communal situations; poor conditions • Seen by many as a brain-washing cult; members kidnapped and deprogrammed

  20. Sun Yung Moon & the Unification Church • In 1978, Congressional committee concluded the church wanted to establish and rule a worldwide government • In 1981, the tax-exempt status for the church was revoked; reason citing the purpose was primarily political • In 1982, Moon convicted of tax evasion and sentenced to 18 months in prison • Fellow prisoners have called him humble, hard-working, and joyful • Followers have called trial religious persecution

  21. Sun Yung Moon & the Unification Church • In 1992, Moon reveals that he is the return of Jesus, predicted by the Bible • In 1994, Moon established the International Federation for World Peace • In 1998, expose of Moon family written by former daughter-in-law • In 2004, Moon tricked members of Congress into attended a ceremony in a Senate building in which Moon was crowned “King of Peace” • Moon died in 2012; his wife (20 years younger) took over leadership; two sons split off and formed their own organizations • Claims to have 3 million members worldwide; other sources say maybe one million or less

  22. Divine Principles: Unification Church teachings • Divine Principles: a book co-written by Moon and follower; published in 1966 • One of the main purposes of the Unification Church is to unite all of the fragments of Christianity into a single body • Celibacy before marriage. No tobacco or alcohol. Work long hours (for church) • Must earn salvation through fasting, fund raising, recruitment • The church becomes a member’s whole life

  23. Divine Principles: Unification Church teachings • Reject the Trinity; Jesus divine, but not God • The Holy Spirit is not a person; it represents God’s feminine side • Adam and Eve • Spiritual fall when Eve had sex with Satan • Physical fall when Eve and Adam had pre-marital sex • Jesus’s resurrection made spiritual salvation possible, but his death prevented physical salvation • The Third Adam’s perfect marriage will make physical salvation possible

  24. Divine Principles: Unification Church teachings • Everything in nature comes in pairs • Jesus was supposed to marry the perfect feminine to complete the perfect pair • Moon’s purpose is to finish that job; third Adam • Moon’s family was touted as pure and perfect • Joining followers into perfect marriages a big part of the church • “Mass marriages” – thousands; couples only meet short time (or not at all) before service

  25. Unification church Persona • NY Times said the church was a combination of : • Pentecostal Christianity, Eastern mysticism, Anti-Communism, Pop psychology, Metaphysics • Owns United Press International • Doesn’t believe in baptism and communion • Does believe in clairvoyance, automatic handwriting, and mediumistic trances. • Moon participated in séances

  26. L. Ron hubbard and scientology • Born in 1911 in Nebraska. Early years in Montana in middle class family. • Father joined military when he was six. They moved around the country and world. • Traveled throughout far east in his teens. • Poor student. Studied engineering per father. Dropped out. • Started successful writing career in his 20s (1930s). Pulp fiction magazines • Best known for science fiction. First book in 1937. Movie scripts soon after.

  27. L. Ron hubbard and scientology • Wrote the book – Excalibur – in 1938, after “near-death experience” while under drug (nitrous oxide?) for dental procedure; everything is survival • Served in the Naval Reserve and Navy during WWII • Command of two ships – both times relieved of command as unfit • Dropped depth charges on imaginary Japanese subs? Attacked Mexican islands • Ended military career in long stay in hospital for ulcer? • In 1945, Collaborated with Jack Parsons, occultist and member of OrdoTempliOrientis • Created sex magic ritual called “Babalon Working”

  28. L. Ron hubbard and scientology • In 1950, published Dianetics – the seminal work for Scientology • Uses auditors (therapists?) that guide individuals (patients?) through past traumatic events to remove engrams left by these events • Purported to lead to more rational approach to living • Largely consistent with prevailing, popular approach in psychology • Methodology used in Dianeticswas submitted by Hubbard’s physician brother-in-law to JAMA and AJP but was rejected • Six months on NY Times best-seller list; best-selling non-Christian religious book of the 20th century

  29. L. Ron hubbard and scientology • In 1951 • Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation formed; Hubbard on lecture circuit • Reincarnation introduced into the practice; thetans – immortal beings, analogous to the soul • Electrodermal activity meter (e-meter) introduced as aid to auditor • NJ Board of Medical Examiners charged Hubbard with practicing medicine w/o license • In 1952 • Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation filed for bankruptcy • Scientology formed, became a religion in the next year

  30. L. Ron hubbard and scientology • Making $250,000 per year by 1959 • Moved to estate in Sussex, England in 1959 • By the end of the ‘60s he moved on board his yacht to avoid controversies and legal woes • Controversies and legal woes the rest of his life… too many to know where to start - AMA, APA, BBB, DOJ, FDA, IRS and those are only those in the US

  31. L. Ron hubbard and scientology • Operations on Sea Org fleet during late ’60s and early ’70s, eventually banned in ports • Fleet conditions were terrible at times • Became very vindictive against people leaving the cult • Scientology “beliefs” still being developed throughout the period • “Wall of Fire” – 75 planet Confederacy, 75 million years ago • Xenu, Galactic Confederacy leader shipped billions of people to Earth, blew them up with H-bombs • Traumatized spirits stuck together at “implant stations”

  32. L. Ron hubbard and scientology • Went into hiding to avoid prison and fines • Wrote more Sci-Fi – Battlefield Earth and other best sellers • Still exercised control of his church • Directed the Guardian Office to find and destroy anything that put him or Scientology in a bad light • Died in California, living in luxury RV on 160 acre ranch

  33. L. Ron hubbard legacy • Hubbard in Guinness records as • Most published author of all times, 1,084 works • Most translated book The Way to Happiness – 70 languages • In a ruling in favor of a biographer being sued by Scientology, Judge Paul G. Breckenridge said of Hubbard • He was a pathological liar • Writings reflect egoism, greed, avarice, lust for power, and vindictiveness • He was charismatic and highly capable of motivating, organizing, controlling, and manipulating

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