Re: James Swartz—What is the Truth?
Posted by:
Traveler99
()
Date: February 27, 2020 10:42AM
For me: No Group think, and No Blind Obedience
I think Heather and I are saying exactly the same thing. As usual with James Swartz, he only does good things accidentally. Even mentioning Ramana or Shankara is a good thing to new seekers, even as much else he says is lies and drivel. In Heather’s case his misuse of Guru-ship” taught her to never put faith in any person.
I’m suspicious, too. Very. Yet there are a few spiritual teachers that I have much respect for. I attend their satsangs, or Meditations or Meetings if they’re Buddhist, whenever I can.
However, if any of them ever asked me to swear loyalty, to promise blind obedience, or to do something I believed was wrong, I’d be out the door doing my best imitation of The Flash, though maybe after a few telling words.
As every real teacher has always said, your real ‘Guru’ is All That Is. It cannot be “objectified,” and we find it looking within, not out at “other” objects.
Heather has learned that. So for her a human Guru is unneeded, even as a good spiritual teacher with wise counsel might be appreciated occasionally.
Ramana Maharshi’s Guru was the holy mountain Arunachala. If she ever does have any queries, a meditation aimed that way might be all she needs...
Re: James Swartz—What is the Truth?
Posted by:
Traveler99
()
Date: March 02, 2020 11:34AM
“The Intermediate Zone”
Of Sri Aurobindo
Explain the Crimes
And Spiritual Lies
Of James Swartz?
Sri Aurobindo’s “Intermediate Zone” explains at least some poor, half-baked, self-inflated, and badly behaving (sex, drugs, fame, power, and/or money) ‘spiritual teachers’ who are out there.
Might it explain the gaseous abscess that is James Swartz? Let us explore Sri Aurobindo’s concept to see.
Quote
Sri Aurobindo (from a letter to a disciple)
=== Characteristics ===
Aurobindo asserted that spiritual aspirants may pass through an intermediate zone where experiences of force, inspiration, illumination, light, joy, expansion, power, and freedom from normal limits are possible. These can become associated with personal aspirations, ambitions, notions of spiritual fulfilment and yogic siddhi, and even be falsely interpreted as full spiritual realisation. One can pass through this zone, and the associated spiritual dangers, without harm by perceiving its real nature, and seeing through the misleading experiences. Those who go astray in it may end in a spiritual disaster, or may remain stuck there and adopt some half-truth as the whole truth, or become more an instrument of less
To me, the answer is “No.”
It would seem that teachers who were out there due to this concept might at least start out believing that they are awakened or even enlightened. Swartz never was. He was a fake from the get-go, and he knew it. He was a mediocre businessman who found an easy way to get money and to get laid. The spiritual teacher racket worked for him almost his whole life. Even after having been revealed as a rapist, a con man, and a spiritual fraud he is still able to keep it together well enough (that is, to keep fooling people into supporting his ‘teachings’) to make a living for himself and his apparently unstable wife.
He was never in the Intermediate Zone. He never made it even that far.
Re: James Swartz—What is the Truth?
Posted by:
Valma
()
Date: March 14, 2020 04:14PM
The other day i landed on the site of Shiningworld and read with fresh eyes an “e-satsang” by J Swartz. What I found in this text was a mixture of correct statements with untruths as well as red flag statements that should alert anyone. I am sure there are plenty examples of this in his “satsangs” and I won’t mention this particular text as I want to focus on the mechanism at play.
This is very tricky for seekers: attracted by truthful statements they won’t yet have the necessary discernment to detect what part is untrue in what is being said. But the correct truth-contained statements are enough to trigger some faith in the teacher and make you want to follow him. The question is: how can a seeker, particularly a beginner, have the capacity to know if a teacher is reliable or not? (That is why is in some traditions it is the discerning teacher who calls or decides whom he wants to train or instruct, not the other way round).
But let us follow what happens next. As a seeker wanting to know more, you will continue to follow that teacher and listen to what he says, still unable to fully discern if what he says should be trusted entirely or not. Soon enough, you are hooked especially if he has some charisma and siddhis in store; he seemed to know so much more than you do and you develop a relationship with him as your spiritual authority. Now it will be all the more difficult to question anything that may be untrue, as loyalty creates a bond which will make it difficult for you to do so as it could possibly break that bond which you psychologically cannot afford to break for whichever personal reason.
When rumors arise about possible unethical behavior, mild or gross, you will reject them as attempts to smear your spiritual hero. This is understandable because you are now fully invested in him and “his” teaching and don’t realize that you have taken on indiscriminately the true and untrue that he nourished you with. This will be all the more evident if the teacher endorses you to become yourself a teacher of your own in his school. That is how once pure teachings become over time distorted and diluted because of impure human transmission.
When I look back on nearly 20 years of following a questionable spiritual teaching a long time ago, precisely because of the reasons mentioned above, my inability to break free from it earlier were also rooted in intellectual laziness and the arrogance of believing I had found the Ultimate in terms of Truth.
In these times rife in corruption, lies and deceit, when it comes to spiritual teachings, I feel it is best to develop first a strong critical sense which helps listen to one’s gut feelings as to what is right and appropriate for us. As for spiritual teachers out there, if their life are not of high ethical standards in all their doings past or present, if we can’t find in them a natural humility and service without expectation, I consider better to avoid them entirely and follow our own quiet inner guidance wherever it takes us.
This is very tricky for seekers: attracted by truthful statements they won’t yet have the necessary discernment to detect what part is untrue in what is being said. But the correct truth-contained statements are enough to trigger some faith in the teacher and make you want to follow him. The question is: how can a seeker, particularly a beginner, have the capacity to know if a teacher is reliable or not? (That is why is in some traditions it is the discerning teacher who calls or decides whom he wants to train or instruct, not the other way round).
But let us follow what happens next. As a seeker wanting to know more, you will continue to follow that teacher and listen to what he says, still unable to fully discern if what he says should be trusted entirely or not. Soon enough, you are hooked especially if he has some charisma and siddhis in store; he seemed to know so much more than you do and you develop a relationship with him as your spiritual authority. Now it will be all the more difficult to question anything that may be untrue, as loyalty creates a bond which will make it difficult for you to do so as it could possibly break that bond which you psychologically cannot afford to break for whichever personal reason.
When rumors arise about possible unethical behavior, mild or gross, you will reject them as attempts to smear your spiritual hero. This is understandable because you are now fully invested in him and “his” teaching and don’t realize that you have taken on indiscriminately the true and untrue that he nourished you with. This will be all the more evident if the teacher endorses you to become yourself a teacher of your own in his school. That is how once pure teachings become over time distorted and diluted because of impure human transmission.
When I look back on nearly 20 years of following a questionable spiritual teaching a long time ago, precisely because of the reasons mentioned above, my inability to break free from it earlier were also rooted in intellectual laziness and the arrogance of believing I had found the Ultimate in terms of Truth.
In these times rife in corruption, lies and deceit, when it comes to spiritual teachings, I feel it is best to develop first a strong critical sense which helps listen to one’s gut feelings as to what is right and appropriate for us. As for spiritual teachers out there, if their life are not of high ethical standards in all their doings past or present, if we can’t find in them a natural humility and service without expectation, I consider better to avoid them entirely and follow our own quiet inner guidance wherever it takes us.
Re: James Swartz—What is the Truth?
Posted by:
Traveler99
()
Date: March 23, 2020 10:50PM
Wise Words
of Warning
During a Stressful Time
Corboy did a fantastic post regarding "Do Not Let Anyone Exploit This Pandemic."
I've broadened it a bit below.
Now, is the self-confessed criminal James Swartz doing any of what is warned about below? Is Aaravindha Himadra? Anadi? Madhukar?
My guess is that each is doing at least some of it, but it would be interesting to hear for sure.
Following is the slightly amended Post by Corboy:
Quote
Corboy (a slightly broadened post)
If your teacher/s use the covid-19 virus epidemic to increase your fear and guilt, they are not true or worthy 'Spiritual Teachers.'
Beware and get away from any teacher, leader or group that does any of the following or more:
* Who suggest this epidemic was caused by your sins, caused by your having doubts or misgivings about the leader, the group, the teachings.
* Who exploit this to further entrench teachings that we are in the end times, the Kali Yuga, that the rest of the world is damned and that you in the group of of the Elite, and will shed your samskaras (cosmic cooties) if you pray harder and yet more obedient to the leader, the teachings, the group. This is exploitation.
And spirituality is not an exclusive country club whose members must pass scrutiny and jump through hoops and pay big bucks to join.
Spirituality is a big tent for everyone.
* Beware if they ask for increased donations and increased prayer claiming it will protect the elderly leaders who have the power to walk you through the Kali Yuga. That's spiritual slavery that will continue long after this epidemic is over.
* Exploits Shelter in Place by demanding that you view yet more videos, yet more conferance calls in ways that increse your anxiety
* Distrust any leader or group using social media and conferance calls to monitor you yet more intensively than before.
* Suspect any leader or group whose social media, conference calls, directions for increased meditation, visualization, prayer, take you away from your family when your family need you more.
* When this interferes with your taking breaks to look after yourself and do things you enjoy.
Re: James Swartz—What is the Truth?
Posted by:
Traveler99
()
Date: March 27, 2020 01:39AM
Swartz's Staff, and Profits, Deserting Him?
James "Criminal Jim" Swartz and Spouse,
Despite the Proceeds from their alleged Rip-offs
of people,
Now Lacking for Volunteer Help
and Begging for Donations.
I don't subscribe to the Shining World Newsletter. To me, it is "bullshit covered with whipping cream." It can appear nice, but when you go into it in any depth, you are soon very disappointed, if not outright disgusted.
However, two friends saw fit to send me a link to the newest (March 2020) version.
It seemed to be the usual Swartz-ian combination of some actual valid spiritual insight mixed with his distortions, prejudices, and self-glorification, except for two parts which were contained in a section called "An Appeal."
As one friend wrote,
"Apparently the word is out. People are realizing that James Swartz is what Heather has said he is--a fraud, a liar, a conman, and, the more they get to know him, 'yeah, he probably did rape her when she was fourteen.' Therefore, Swartz is lacking volunteers (Krishna forbid he pay anyone) to run his website, and he and his wife are hurting for money. Part of this could be because they've needed to cancel his profitable teaching visits to England, Germany, and the Netherlands, and might have to cancel Spain. It's also obvious that, due to the coronavirus and, hopefully, people getting smarter, that few if any are going to the (fraudulently attained) Spanish ashram."
The coronavirus is a terrible thing. However, that it is negatively effecting James Swartz and the spreading of his vomitous teachings is one happy side effect.
Below is the "Appeal" from Swartz.
Quote
Shining World Newsletter -- "James Swartz needs help"
AN APPEAL
UNFORTUNATELY, TWO FACTORS impact unfavourably on our ability to continue to disseminate the peerless teachings of Vedanta: Covid-19 and my inability to maintain the website. We have been particularly blessed by volunteers so far, but volunteers have their own lives and are not always available to do timely work. Because I can’t add new content, sales of books and videos on the website are not sufficient. Additionally, there will be no income from seminar donations for the foreseeable future. We sold our flat in South Africa to pay off our Listening...Reflecting...Assimilating.The Essence of Enlightenment: Vedanta, the Science of Consciousness by James Swartz.5.
mortgage, but the South African rand is tanking as we speak, and if the global financial situation continues its downward slide, it is doubtful that we will be able to pay off the mortgage in full. We have enough savings to pay our daily bills, so the situation is not dire, and of course eventually things will turn around and go back to normal. In any case, whereas I’m always reluctant to ask, ShiningWorld needs help, so please donate.
True Vedanta is indeed not to be surpassed, but Swartz has never taught it and doesn't know it. A careful reading of this Subject on this Forum proves that he's lied about his spiritual history, his "awakening," and most other parts of his (sordid, and self-confessed criminal) life. That he has no seminar income for the foreseeable future, and that his 'volunteers' have fled the sinking ship, is, to me, justice (others would say 'karma' or 'payback').
As for Swartz's words in the final sentence, "ShiningWorld needs help", well, yes. Absolutely. But not financial help. James Swartz has "needed help" psychiatrically since at least the 1970's. Sadly, it is likely he'll never get it.
Good luck to everyone with the coronavirus and the societal and economic shock waves that come with it (well, almost everyone...).
Re: James Swartz—What is the Truth?
Posted by:
Valma
()
Date: March 27, 2020 03:08PM
Thanks for the update, Traveller 99
But honestly, if anyone needs urgently donations it is those people who are doctors and nurses who are in dire situation at the moment and lack tools, masks, beds, etc. it is hospitals and all doctors who do not follow the official rigid line and are banned or threatened for helping their fellow beings. Those need help and support before anyone else in these times!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/27/2020 03:09PM by Valma.
But honestly, if anyone needs urgently donations it is those people who are doctors and nurses who are in dire situation at the moment and lack tools, masks, beds, etc. it is hospitals and all doctors who do not follow the official rigid line and are banned or threatened for helping their fellow beings. Those need help and support before anyone else in these times!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/27/2020 03:09PM by Valma.
Re: James Swartz—What is the Truth?
Posted by:
Traveler99
()
Date: May 18, 2020 11:53PM
The whole Coronavirus lockdown and situation is quite interesting, isn't it?
A few weeks ago a good friend sent me a message saying, "OMG! Look at this..." preceding a link to the newest Sliming World newsletter by James Swartz. As has been stated here before, and as my friend knows well, I never like reading anything produced by the self-admitted criminal and proven fraud James Swartz. Usually anytime people send me something by Squirts to examine they refer me to particular pages or passages.
My friend hadn't done that. Somewhat unhappily, but expecting to find something noteworthy, I looked through the whole thing. I was surprised. It seemed to all be the normal Swartzian bull stuffings -- a combination of misstatements, wrong assumptions, false assertions, trivial bunk, and truisms mixed in with a few factual statements to make it almost digestible, all written in a confident manner since seeming certain can often make even diarrhea seem sightly (until one knows the writer well enough to take a strong whiff).
Puzzled, I wrote to my friend. "Was there something besides the usual horseshit in that latest mal-writing by Swartz that I missed?"
The reply came, "No. I just thought it would be funny, thinking of you reading that excremental thing." He added a 'smiley face.'
What could I say besides:
"Thanks, 'Buddy.' Thanks a lot"
I'm sure he got a good chuckle from it. Perhaps you are, too.
I'm still not laughing. :-(
Re: James Swartz—What is the Truth?
Posted by:
Traveler99
()
Date: June 07, 2020 01:45AM
to Junkmail.
A real teacher,
Swami Sarvapriyananda,
focused on instead...
From my"Buddy" in the post just above came another message. This time he was not playing a merry jest. He wrote from the heart.
I of course hope that the person he extols (in comparison to James Swartz, it doesn't take much to be 'good,' true) bears up as "the real deal" as time goes on, and more persons are heard from regarding him. (This is a Swartz forum, so a Private Message with tales of this "real teacher" would be fine.)
Quote
From my "Buddy" about a "real teacher," as opposed to James Swartz...
Hi Gang,
I’ve been listening to a lot of Swami Sarvapriyananda's talks lately. He is such a clear, saintly teacher of Vedanta with a deep, nuanced appreciation of other spiritual traditions. He just finished a year as a grad student at Harvard Divinity School. I wish I could have been a classmate. Anyway, I just came home from my daily walk in the woods while listening to him, and found one of JS’s newsletters in my junk folder, fittingly. I thought, wow, if only the people who are wasting their time with Swartz could switch to Swami S. What a refreshing and wholesome contrast that would be for them. I suppose it’s the karma to be with Swartz, but it’s sad.
Hope you’re all doing well and staying safe.
Sadly, what Papaji said is still true.
When he went looking for a guru all he found was businessmen in robes until he met Sri Ramana Maharshi.
Ramana is seventy years gone now, but there still be a few good ones out there.
Thank Shiva (the Divine, All That Is, The Self, The Absolute...) for that!
Re: James Swartz—What is the Truth?
Posted by:
Traveler99
()
Date: June 08, 2020 04:17AM
as compared to James Swartz:
"Refreshing Clarity and Peace of Mind..."
the high appraisals voiced in the previous post of Swami Sarvapriyananda
as compared to excremental "teachers" such as James Swartz.
The name of the writer has been withheld due to courtesy,
but it seems okay to mention that he/she has been heard from before on this forum:
Quote
Correspondent who has experienced James Swartz and Swami Sarvapriyananda
I could not agree more with your friend. One of the qualities i found in that Swami is that he does not identify himself with Vedanta, yet he gives a clear pure rendering of it as the great scholar and humble teacher he is whilst acknowledging the value of other paths as well. His clarity and peace of mind is so refreshing especially after having encountered someone like JS!!
He is my reference in terms of Vedanta and i have learnt so much with him. He is not a Yogi however or a specialist in Pantajali Yoga where you go through intense physical and mental training.
IMO he is the best teacher for modern Western and Indian people alike as he has gone through the strict training of an Indian monk in the tradition of Vivekananda schools, yet is living in the US in New York (of all cities), knows how to use an Iphone and drive a car and is very much open to Western research on consciousness whilst well acquainted with Western philosophers and thinkers of all times.
I can only warmly recommend him for any sincere seekers. I have not seen any personality cult in or around him.
Re: James Swartz—What is the Truth?
Posted by:
Traveler99
()
Date: June 21, 2020 02:30PM
You Can Pay James Swartz
$35 a week for a service he pays $20 a month for--
All to receive his "teachings' based on the spiritual work
he has been proved to have deliberately Mistranslated.
Good gods.
My friend sent me more news of Squirts.
Swartzites must be overjoyed. Fans of Squirts should be exultant.
Their spiritual version of Donald Trump is offering teachings on-line. How wonderful!
And these teachings will be about the Bhagavad Gita, his favorite spiritual work since he has his own biased, inaccurate, and incomplete "translation" of it to use.
And if you can't pay the 25 Euros (about $35), don't worry. Even though "it is the dharma of committed inquirers to support the teachings and the teacher, so please give generously," if you can prove you're poverty-stricken, Squirts and his spouse will still let you attend by issuing you a "Compassion Pass." (Such generosity!)
Note--the Zoom account for "businesses" costs $20 a month. One attendee and Squirts is already making money... Alleluia!
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