The “problem” of no enlightened devotees?
In the early 1980’s several devotees of Adi Da Samraj came forward to confess their enlightened condition, I remember the thrill that went through me — My God—Enlightenment is possible – From memory a well known yoga scholar, a formal devotee at the time, wrote a booklet on this astounding development, which upon testing by the Great Adept, Adi Da, ultimately was shown to be a false alarm and the lesson used to further self understanding in his students.
While it is true, it would have been a marvelous event for humanity (I for one would dance with joy), if a fully enlightened devotee had arisen during Bhagavan Adi Da’s lifetime (or at any time). There is more to it than that. Adi Da set the bar very, very high in his teaching and transmission work (while alive). Most formal devotees of Adi Da Samraj can confess to degrees of enlightenment with a small “e”. Taking different form in each case, perceived perhaps as gifts and insights received. That small “e” should not be sneezed at, it would always be hard won, by a combination of Grace and Sadhana. The seed of this potential is in the community.
Something great may emerge from all this or not, there is a massively powerful spiritual and physical infrastructure built tirelessly by Adi Da Samraj while alive, its quite astounding what he accomplished and so much remains unknown in the public domain.
Most commonly, what happens with the passing of a great Guru or Teacher in the past, has been a mediocre continuation of what he or she set in motion. Adidam has the potential to be different to this. Its up to current and future devotees to create the difference.
Thus, my true devotees will be a new human order that will serve to “create” a new age of sanity and joy. But that age will not be the age of the occult, the religious, or the scientific or the technological evolution of mankind. It will be the fundamental age of Real Existence, wherein life will be radically realized, entirely apart for the adventure that was mankind’s great search.
from The Heart’s Shout
Tags: Adi Da, Adi Da Samraj, Enlightenment
January 31st, 2009 at 9:51 am
I think it’s important to state that the bar is indeed set very, very high in Adidam for what Enlightenment is!!
I have met so many people who claimed it, and on close inspection, were truly as full of shit as I am!! (And many that weren’t!)
We really need to be discriminating about who is Enlightened, and who has had a few powerful experiences, and clung onto them as if they were permanent Enlightenment. As Adi Da’s devotees, we’ve all had plenty of those moments, for sure, but the real test is in living the demonstration, under all conditions.
One of my own close friends runs an Ashram in England, and puts himself out there as the Enligthened Guru, and I’d hardly dare compare him to Adi Da!!
Also, Adi Da’s teachings on the 7 stages of life are so very very valuable. Many 4th stage and 5th stage people are seen as Enlightened, rightly so, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have their shit too, or that these stages have even reached some stability. Until the 7th stage has happened, that’s inevitable, and Adi Da demands the 7th stage as the bar we have to pass!!