It is still amazes me EndofFaith, how anyone can listen to Gary’s “dialogue” and accept any of it as an irrefutable “gospel” of Truth. As we know, there is an induction “process” involved, that we don’t see, and are unaware of once we’re “in”. That these are the edicts from God himself. Mr. word made flesh, and are above and beyond any questioning by the chela.
It amazes me too. But I was once a trusting chela who did not question, and instead turned any questioning into a "it must be a negative prompting from the unconscious mind", and as a result, I lived many years in an internal state of conflict and angst while on MP. Chelas are trained to view questions as a product of the mind that only spawn more questions. I remember in the early years Gary talking about "Questions are a form of death." Chelas are clearly discouraged from questioning and from exercising any form of critical thinking since both are viewed as negative mental activity that engages the mind over soul. Not true, but when you surrender to the "guru", all bets are off.
The real induction process is not seen by the majority of chelas since few will ever be in close proximity to the outer master, his wife, or his closest higher initiates. I remember the times of disagreeing with the "perceptions" of Gary or his wife about experiences and the predictable response of "it's just your unconscious mind that doesn't see it." Leaving MP was a very painful process since your entire life becomes defined by it. To defy Gary in any way is met with harsh consequences. Gary and his wife viewed me and others as defiant. Why? Because we finally began saying no to their personal self-serving, unreasonable, and extreme requests. It was the beginning of the end.
The Guru Papers is an incredible book written about the guru/chela relationship, the psychological dynamics of surrendering to a guru, and the unchallengeable authoritarian role it assumes within the individual.
I asked my chela friend, Ann, if 9 months membership would be a suitable period for me to join to “investigate” my interest in the MasterPath, and find out what it is all about. I received a bewildered look from her with no encouragement, saying that it was up to me how long I wanted to join for, and having nothing more to add. She had done a little “one-on-one” on me days before, and I had read some of an introductory book at the time, having heard about MP for the first time only a week or so earlier. She did not have to say it, but according to her I was obviously not ready.
:candle: Are you able to shed some light on the induction process. How does a seeker become a chela? Is there an unspoken requirement that you must attend a seekers presentation, view the Master in the flesh, before you can proceed? Socializing with active chelas must also be involved. As a chela, are you able to recognize when a seeker is “ripe” for their committal to the group. Is the chela then “prepared” to take decisive action once a prospective member displays such a state of readiness, to ensure the chela’s (and Gary’s) “investiture”? In your request for membership letter you are expected to address Gary as “Master”? I’d have an issue with that. What would happen if you addressed him as “Gary”, or even “Mr Olsen”? Would your application be rejected and have your fees chequesent back? How does the introduction sequence establish itself and all fit together, and leave anyone curious enough to end up “in there”?
In the beginning years, people were invited to attend meetings to "view and hear the master speak." People were given a small booklet "Profile of the MasterPath" but mostly it was one-on-one that convinced folks to check out the MP. I don't know if seekers are expected to address Gary as "Master" in their letter, but certainly the chelas refer to the "Master" or "Sri Gary" constantly. Toward the end, I began calling him Gary.
Now, I believe the MP policy is that a seeker is allowed to attend ONE seeker meeting at no charge. After that I think they are allowed to read or watch only those materials that are available to seekers before reaching their decision. I remember Gary & KW discussing that he did not want seekers to be able to attend numerous seeker meetings without paying or becoming a chela. I also remember them changing the information in the Profile to include a "seeker application." I was instantly struck by the oddity that an "application" to become a chela was a very worldly method to request materials for what is claimed to be "beyond the worldly." But I guess that's just one of those "unconscious promptings questioning" the unconscious prompting of the minds who think they are gods and goddesses.
I also recall that Gary made the decision that if someone was not ready to receive the 2nd initiation at the 2 year mark, they would not be sent discourses. Since he did not want people who were not committed to have access (or walk away) with discourses that went beyond two years. Why? Good question.
He was also concerned that he would have a large group of chelas reaching the 12 year mark, and if the discourses ended at year 12, it would mean a significant drop in revenue! His solution: at the end of the 12th year of discourses, he sent out a discourse stating that beginning the 13th year chelas would receive a discourse every other month (6 months of discourses) but since one's devotion to the "Shabda Master" was so intact by the 12th year, chelas would continue paying monthly fees for the entire year. Yep, he was one heck of a businessman. He turned a 3 day seminar into a 24 hour turn around for himself, and his primary concern in the process was how to do it without losing profit. So, when you look at his schedule he speaks for 12 hours a year, along with the occasional "Regional Meeting." Before I left I know he was in discussion on how to set up him and his wife for lifetime salaries. Yep, he's a real master alright.
I would like to ask you: What was your experience; “initiation” onto the Path. How were you led (misled) to become dedicated Pather, :ww: EndofFaith?
I met Joy when I was young, and she was my friend. I loved, trusted, and quite ignorantly believed her and Gary. I'll share the details of how I was "initiated" onto the Path another time.
The last "satsang" (private meeting that lasted for 8 hours) I had with Gary....I left his home that day hearing only these words inside: I would rather live the life of a pauper and be true inside than the live the life of riches and have it be a lie.
