The new tendencies

[Guest guest]

Light and Love

 

Everyday many new spiritual gurus are emerging with the aim of bringing peace to the common man. These new age gurus have become increasingly popular, as overworked people seek new ways to cope with the pressures created by materialistic lifestyles.

Some years back the mass hype about Ganesha drinking milk? Even further if we turn the pages of history, we will visualise how Roop Kanwar, a young teenage housewife in Rajasthan, was burnt alive to rejuvenate the spirit of ’Sati’ and she was idolized as Sati Devi. These are some naked evidences of superstition, but in this land of varied castes, creed, belief and of course taboos, a new group of ’deities’ is emerging and penetrating into the society.

They are as popularly called the New Age Gurus, who not only impart knowledge about salvation and ’moksha’ but also help in leading a ’stress-free’ life. Their main device of serving the people is ’yoga’. In this connection, many new trends have emerged throughout the country. It can be considered that these are some of the new religions led by these gurus. Earlier, we had gurus like Guru Nanak, Mohammad, Jesus who led the world and spread the message of love and unity. They formed Islamism, Sikhism, Christianity- and today the new age gurus are not only spreading the mantra of unity but also how to lead a happy life.

Shri Shri Ravi Shankar is considered by one of the Indian magazines as the ’fastest growing guru in the marketplace of happiness’. According to him, breathing is ’forgotten secret of life’, which is the source of inner peace. Shankar said that he discovered meditation almost 26 years ago. He is the founder of one of the most well known institutes among the foreigners- the Art of Living (AOL) International Centre. Some critics consider him to be the ’guru to the rich and famous’ while Shankar defended himself saying that acquiring inner peace has got nothing to do with rich and wealthy.

 

Adding a little more opulence and experience is Sri Satya Sai Baba. “I am god. And you too are god. The only difference between you and me is that while I am aware of it, you are unaware.” This was his answer when asked about his identity and divinity.

Sathya Sai Baba is known for his simple and sweet way of rendering the fundamental truths of life. And I think, it is this simple manner of Sai, which has earned him mass popularity. It was from early 1970s that Westerners started visiting him. And today Sai Baba is considered of having almost 30-50 millions devotees (as given by his followers). Among this huge number, 10 million is considered to be from India.

 

’Yog-guru’ Ramdev claims of bringing back the teaching and charisma of traditional Indian scriptures such as Ashtadhyayee, Mahabhashya, and Upanishads. He is also trying to revive the six systems of Indian philosophy in various gurukuls, which he has established over the years. Ramdev promotes not only yoga but also the universal effect of Ayurveda through his institutes.

There are many globally acclaimed names, which add figure on the list of the new age leaders like Deepak Chopra, Bernie Seagal,Marianne Williamson and many others.

They believe in concepts like: Inter-connectivity of all living forms Acceptance and tolerance of varied ideologies

Care for the nature and environment, and ’Ahimsa’ or non-violence

 

Many new spiritual cultures are emerging with the aim of rendering peace to the common people in this materialistic world. In fact, the existing age old cultures are also going through many changes to suit the changing needs. What is more important is not the rise of new cultures or beliefs but the belief in oneself and confidence to face the forthcoming problems, as also stated by all the spiritual preachers. Once that is done his way to salvation and eternal happiness is clear and unobstructed.

 

In short from Merinews, 13 Nov 2008 by CJ: Shilpa Dasgupta "New age spiritual gurus."

http://www.merinews.com:80/catFull.jsp?articleID=148710

 

Being aware what Swami had taught and teaches during all His lifetime the new tendencies the formation of modern gurus are pictorially as the 'seeds materialized' from the soil Swami's teachings. Several seeds are are full of the Divine life force and will carry the sweet fruits, but some will carry the uneatable fruits also... The last fruits are as experiences for people to select the Truth followed by Rama, Krishna, Christ, Swami... from other qualities of Being.

 

Namaste - Reet