I stumbled upon this site and the general discussion started me thinking that the opinions expressed in the previous post by IP is quite true.

I know someone who has been a teacher for AOL quite some time now. Having attained some “GYAN” about how to better ones life and learn tolerance, he divorced his wife and now cannot stand anyone else either. He has also become totally intolerant of anyone taking a diametrically opposite view of SSRS hallowed position in their hollow lives.

I also observed that AOL targets affluent people/candidates so that they can contribute in cash to the “cause” (no comments on what cause).

One night stands between members are more the norm than the exception, and not limited within students but throught out the hierarchy, possibly with the blessings of SSRS himself? What better way to keep idiots as complete faithfuls (“SHRADDHALU”) in this sex starved country than to offer free sex or offer a platform to get some!

The fact that much of whats taught is common sense is hardly surprising. I dont think one needs a spiritual leader to confirm whats obvious to any officious bystander. So that itself nullifies the whole concept.

About the “sudarshan kriya”, well thats just another in a long line of Yoga variants created by assortegurus and their dog. Nothing inventive there. Same as the assorted slimming gadgets you get on Daytime TV offering instant results. Most people dont get the bottom line “you slog your butt, you will lose weight”. So we continue to get Gurus Galore and followers waiting to fill vacant time which could be ideally utilized for betterment of ones own self if not anyone else.

Just wanted to add a few things.

1. I have personally undergone the AoL Part 1 course and found it to be useless for me as a person, for twofold reason.

A. what is taught under the name of “pranayam” and what millions in our country believes to be true pranayama is not at all pranayama. And this is not my opinion, it would be the opinion of any true sadhak who knows what real pranayama is. The definition of the word pranayama comes from the word itself. It says “prana” (life force), “yama” (control). SO it is controlling the life energy and not the external inflow and outflow of air through one’s nostril. That is just the oxygen supply for the body and not the “prana”.
To add to this, there is the much praised sudarshan kriya taught at the course. It is nothing but very slow in and out breathing for 40 times, medium paced breaths for 20 times and fast paced breath for 20 times, the whole process repeated three times. I have seen people crying aloud after the practice of it during the course. However most of the lot in my batch did not seem to have felt any difference after doing it (though some has mentioned having releived of cronic pains after it and so on). Moreover, the book “Puran Purush Shri Shyamacharan Lahiri” tells clearly that control of outward breath is not Kriya.
And logically, definitely control of outward breathing can affect us bodily since it will also control the rate of oxygen supply to our cells but it surely cannot affect us spiritually in either positive or negative way since there is nothing spiritual in pumping air with our lungs.

Same goes for all other “pranayama” exercises taught in the course.

B. There were several “sutras” or pieces of knowledge given to the students in the course..such as “don’t let yourself be kicked around by other people’s opinions” and “don’t see intent behind other’s mistakes”, etc.
I know there are many people who would like to make rules of these kind of commandments and lead their life thiking they have gained a lot. But two things here, first, I don’t see why anyone leading a life with his/her “eyes” open cannot learn these things from his/her own experience by a very early age. Second, anyone with a wee bit of intelligence will see that it’s in a way harmfull to live with stupid rules in our lifes like the above.

So on the whole “useful” is what I think perfectly describes the AoL course and probably SSRS with it.

Why so?
Let me add:
I stumbled upon this great site while looking for proof of criticism the “gurus” abound.

How do you seek straight ideology for the ‘betterment’ if you don’t bother?

Thats what ‘uncreepy’ people do, they don’t bother. Wonder the creep.

But I think he does not mind it that his worshippers do consider him the SCotU. Indeed, he smiles benignly and indulgently when they bow and scrape in front of him and kiss his feet.

That’s implied consent. After all it is much useful if “aam admi” anoints you as SCotU rather than you claiming it yourself. The latter may land you in the loony bin.

Your SSRS series is growing rapidly… any chance you may be interested in writing about other “Maa’s” and “gurudevs” littering Indian “spiritual landscape”. Dr. Anil Avchat has some excellent books (“Ashraddha” – in Marathi) about much smaller but more vicious personality cults of gurus, maatas in Maharashtra… some even exploiting devotees sexually and financially. The Andhashraddha nirmulan samiti does a lot of work to eradicate the hold of these cults too.

I wonder what the incentive is in being part of these cults? SSRS’s AOL is probably an exception… at least it provides some actual service in terms of meditation and pranayama training. But what about some of the other cults? Is it simply a sense of community that this gives? Is it the comfort of the easy answers provided by the cult leaders? What makes people follow these cults so blindly at such cost in terms of time spent and money wasted?

Atanu’s response: Sameer, it is just the luck of the draw. Just for the heck of it I wrote about SSRS and then people commented and I responded. Ordinarily I would not have paid much attention but the reaction of SSRS worshippers to my fairly neutral article compelled me to keep clarifying my position. I generally don’t bother to know anything about the other gurus and their followers are doing. Compared to SSRS perhaps they are bit players. I agree that SSRS at least provides some value in terms of teaching pranayam and other techniques.