Re: Chris Butler, Jagad Guru, Science of Identity
Posted by:
RUN_FOREST_RUN
()
Date: January 22, 2022 06:00AM
I think it's fair to say that we all will likely have to agree to disagree that magic is real. Sadly, but everyone got their thing.
The rhetoric of slavery to god/gods devotees runs very deep in the cult. The idea that we will take birth as a fly in stool if the lord wishes is obviously meant as a sign of humility. Acknowledging that god can kick you and you will come back like a dog to his feet is a major component of such a faith. The idea of base level pointless humility and ego subjugation is paramount to such a philosophies success. If a person sees themselves as an imperfect, low, unworthy slave, there is nothing to ever complain about if life kicks you in the ass repeatedly. Low expectations, fewer disappointments. This can be of service as a casual observation at times, but I think we can all agree there is no need to play the role of the humble man. Nature humbles us all at various times in life without needing to grovel and pray for it. It comes on it's own accord. One need not be a Franciscan monk and whip oneself with leather straps to humble thyself. Bhaktisiddhanta would also say things like "Beat the mind with a shoe in the morning and a broom in the evening". Pointless phrases that do literally nothing to nurture positivity and happiness. Viewing ones mind as some enemy, fearing being in the same room as ones mother and sister as he did, this is fanatical religious paranoia and neurosis, not devotion or love of anything.
I had been in assorted gaudiya groups and never witnessed a single siddhi, mystic or magic effects, powers or so on. If I did, I may have even stayed. Call me shallow but I'm a sucker for magic tricks. Well, real magic tricks. If Butler could grow lotus flowers where he walked, I would eat his toenails for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
As far as Politics and the socio/religious/political climate in India that gave shape to Gaudiya Vaishnavism, there is actually much of this that has historically shaped any cult. In many ways, cults are born out of social-political upheaval. The Gaudiya sect is no different. There is also cross cultural religious influence. Islam, Sufiism and Buddhist ideas helped shape assorted bhakti cults as well. In fact, Islam has many devotional sub-sects that practice Chanting and dancing. Rumi wrote extensively about the idea of loving god like a lover etc. These ideas were also explored by the Alwars and many groups in Tamil Nadu. Chaitanya was influenced by these things. As were previous and subsequent devotional cults.
As far as Butler practicing or SIF promoting yoga nidra/psychic sleep etc, these are in my opinion irrelevant issues as I believe all they teach is hokie pokie bullshit. But if we are to dwell on it siddhantically, sure, it's not in line with any gaudiya teachings, but then again neither was Brahman thread diksha and that did not stop Saraswati from instigating such a practice. In fact where is the prescription for chanting any fixed number of rounds on Japa beads? Or the purpose and use of a sikha? Many rituals and practices in the Gaudiya faith were created on a whim.
As fas a Butler having the power of hypnosis: Hypnosis is not a "siddhi". Hypnosis is a psychiatric practice that works on some and not on others. It has to do with what areas of the brain that are able to be activated by the mechanism of focusing/concentrating on the slow, steady voice of the person administering hypnosis. Many therapists have attempted to hypnotize me and I am not susceptible to hypnosis by professionals, but they obviously have many patients on whom it works. At the end of the day this is irrelevant to me simply because Butler or SIF does not use Yoga Nidra or hypnosis as anything more than a relaxation technique. Using methods of breathwork and mediation to enter a peaceful state of mind is not a siddhi it's brain science and neurology. That's it. Nothing mystical about it. It's not like Butler was mind-controlling people to fly plains into buildings for him for fuck sake. At best he was controlling people to wash his pee-stained underwear 3 times with charnamrita.
For the record, Poland was very much in the dark about Butler's political ambitions, as Butler's political involvement was concerning America, not Poland. Though I am sure Polish devotees got involved in promoting Tulsi Gabbard as well and pretended to be American constitutes on various forums to give her support. I honestly do not think Butler cared much about the Polish missions. He never visited them and Vishnu das and Tapasya das spent little time with Butler. The missions there were largely the concoction of whatever they created, not some grand instruction from Butler. Butler's instructions were simple: Start a center, teach people mantra mediation and you are not the body and read gita. Oh, and start some businesses and send me money. If you can't do the later, I won't visit you. But keep chanting sheep.
Those close to Butler, personal servants, have vouched that the TV is on some news channel almost all day long at Butlers homes. Newspapers are strewn on the floor and he has an obsession to the point that if anyone touches his newspaper he will flip out on them. Baseball and Politics mixed with a bit of Gipi Bhava for good measure is Butler's MO.
If you went back in time and became a Gaudiya Math Member during the times of Saraswati thakur, you would see a mission filled with men petrified of their own shadow and living under the irrational dogam of their guru. They were following a man who gave himself Sanyas, who really never got diksha from Gaurakishor, was dismissive and often mean in his assessment of other gaudiya and vaishnava groups as inferior to his particular brand and odeaology. They were afraid of women. Even their own mothers and sisters. To make money and support the temples they begged from door to door. At one time Bhaktisiddhanta even said he was willing to serve meat at his temples to attract people. Bhaktisiddhanta had such a fanatical image of his father in his mind that he once admonished a senior babji when Bhaktivinode bowed to the baba. He told him, "Don't you know who my father is?! He is a Nitya Siddha!!". Whatever happened to humility and offering respect to everyone? Bhaktisiddhanta was not invited to any vaishnava debates and other religious leaders literally avoided him. So much for unity and brotherhood. They were scared of his totalitarian approach. I don't think the man had a silly bone in his body. He was stern, serious and by all accounts not a happy character. Both him and his father apparently shared a "vision" of the Chaitanya saints birthplace. The vision consists of a glowing mansion on the other side of the ganga. What a coincidence? What are the odds? Slim... nill.
If Butler every showed in his mannerisms that he was unsure of himself playing guitar it's because he was not skilled at playing the guitar, not because he lacked charisma or was unsure of his political leanings or lacked guru hutzpah.
As far as my conviction and determination to expose and show this cult for what it is, I can only say that it is partly driven by the fact that I feel I wasted a good chunk of my life in it, it ruined many relationships that should have been simple, easy and functionally beneficial and I just hate plain stupid. And there's a lot of that going on in these communities so I am trying to appeal to people's better judgment, common sense and rational thinking. I am not saying there is no god or science is king. Just use your head.