UPDATE ON SEPT. 25: Juan just left this comment, indicating that the September 17 meeting of Indian secretaries was indeed scheduled, then cancelled. I've also heard that Gurinder Singh Dhillon's scheduled initiation ceremony in New Delhi, which was last weekend, I believe, was cancelled. So it still seems to me that something is up. We just don't know what.
UPDATE ON SEPT. 11: I've heard from someone with close ties to RSSB that actually there isn't a meeting of Indian secretaries happening on September 17. If Juan reads this, I'm curious to know how he learned of the meeting, and whether there was any written documentation of the meeting notice. It's strange that nobody from RSSB said that the meeting wasn't happening after I wrote this post. The only skepticism was from a few commenters who said a meeting happens every year around this time.
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If true, and I have no reason to believe it isn't, today's comment on a recent blog post, "Will Gurinder Singh quit as RSSB guru and appoint a female successor," seems like pretty big news.
I was the secretary of our local Radha Soami Satsang Beas group for many years. Periodically I'd get written communications from the Dera (RSSB headquarters in India), but to my knowledge this is a first in the history of RSSB -- requiring secretaries to come to the Dera for an obligatory meeting.
UPDATE: Above is another comment from Juan, which was published on this post. If I read it correctly, the meeting is only for secretaries in India. So I've reflected that new information in this blog post. I've added another guess, (3) below, as to what the meeting is about.
What's the reason for this meeting? We could wait and see. But that's not as much fun as speculating. Which is what I'll do.
First, Gurinder Singh Dhillon, the RSSB guru, has said that he intends to answer questions about his suspicious financial dealings, which have attracted a lot of attention in India. However, it doesn't seem likely that the guru would require the secretaries to journey to India to hear a report that could be communicated in written form.
So what else could the reason be? These are my top guesses. Feel free to suggest your own via a comment on this post.
(1) Gurinder Singh is going to announce that he is resigning as RSSB guru, and wants to explain his reasons in person. He then will announce his successor, who could be a woman.
(2) Gurinder Singh is going to announce a major change in how RSSB operates. Perhaps there will be less emphasis on overseas centers, and more emphasis on initiates' private meditation and spiritual life. Going back to basics, so to speak.
(3) Gurinder Singh is going to announce his response to the allegations about financial impropriety concerning RSSB and the Dhillon family, urging the secretaries to communicate that response to the Indian members of RSSB.
(3) Gurinder Singh is going to announce that Brian Hines (me) has been correct that the RSSB guru is just an ordinary person who lacks mystical powers, and appoints me as the new "guru" who will deliver messages to RSSB members through this blog. (OK, I'm joking.)
Jesse: "Do it or shut up."
Hold on, that comes across suspiciously as "cowardly censorship" to me?
Why you so scared of dissenting voices, Jesse, what's up with that?
You now want me to discuss with you, genie-us Jesse?
Yep, just as soon as you make some sort of mature, semi-coherent response to the last discussion you initiated, and then limped away from weakly with "this is a garbage conversation" dismissal you would expect from an 8 year old.
Are you surprised I do not take you seriously?
Cause and effect, bro, cause and effect.
VACUOUS noise signifying nothing deserves no "discussion".
Posted by: manjit | September 11, 2018 at 11:43 AM
The context here is about RSSB problems.
It's not about eachother.
Everyone can say what they want about the context,in my vieuw.
Why go and make sort of war here against eachother?
It's no fun to read this.
I think Jesse is very much with the subject.
Brian had doubds and some people were disturbed but others felt glad they were not the only ones.
So Manjit it is not what you say here.
Brian had his way to go..
This is how I see it.
For what it is worth.
The subject is painful/hurtfull enough.
Posted by: s* | September 11, 2018 at 12:00 PM
Hi Sita, you write: "So Manjit it is not what you say here."
Dear Sita - I understand there are many who have or at least feel they have benefitted from this forum and the news that is shared here - indeed, it is extremely important (as I have stated countless times).
The problem is, Sita - and I am not concerned if you agree with me or not, to be honest - the sincerity, integrity, compassion etc of the people who are peddling those criticisms (and, really, it IS peddling) should also be looked at.
You may think Jesse "is very much with the subject"; he may well be. But that doesn't stop it being vacuous, without substance, juvenile, easy & cliche criticisms coming from somebody who has admitted, in hiw own words:
a) He is a troll
b) has contempt for anyone who believes in RSSB
c) never had any real devotion to Gurinder or RSSB.
It is clear to me Jesse is merely venting here, and being the troll he admits being.
In regards Brian - yes, we need a shared space for criticising RS - I've been saying that for years. But should we not call out our attention-seeking blog leader for associating Gurinder's behaviour with the abuses of the "me too" movement? That lacks decency on MULTIPLE levels. First, Gurinder's behaviour is almost diametrically opposed to the hidden abuses uncovered by the "me too" movement". Secondly, it diminishes the impact of GENUINE abuses when you use the claim simply to further demonise somebody you are ideologically opposed to.
Finally, I'm surprised at all this defensiveness by not only yourself, but Jesse and Brian.
They can gleefully and excitedly criticise, knowing how hard & traumatic these issues may be for people, but get offended at my pointing out of facts, and questioning their motivations? How utterly trivial and inconsequential the things people get offended by! Such delicate little souls :)
Sure, knock yourselves out, pretend Brian is demonstrating great care and concern for exers, that it isn't motivated by recognition and attention, that Jesse has tremendous insight and experience with RSSB or whatever other self-delusional nonsense you want.
How incredibly fragile the facade though.
How incredibly weak.
Posted by: manjit | September 11, 2018 at 12:15 PM
"sincerity, integrity, compassion "
"knowing how hard & traumatic these issues may be for people"
Lol stop virtue signalling. Maybe I had a traumatic experience and felt hurt and deceived. Did that stop you from trolling me? Not in the slightest.
Manjit, liar extraordinaire.
Posted by: Jesse | September 11, 2018 at 12:40 PM
Jesse: "stop virtue signalling"
Interpretation via the vacuous noise transmogrifyer (TM): "Oooh, look at me, I can use trendy new terms that are oh soo cool, aren't I smart!! Look at MEEE"
Hey, bro, throw in a "cognitive dissonance" in there too, that will make you look really intelligent and trendy!!
Posted by: manjit | September 11, 2018 at 12:48 PM
Hi Manjit,
One can say''hee.., the'' me too'' is entirely out of context here,I think so too!
What babaji said to her in public was not good anyhow.
It was humbling.
So it is alright that people can vent here and in'' radhasoamistudies'' also.
.................
What I felt and I felt lonely in that period in Dera, was, that opposite the Satsanghar were big bank buildings.
Very weird that was to me.
What I heard in the morning satsangs was'' we as satsangis' can go trough the ocean because We have the Master!! but others can't cross the ocean''..We are the fortunate ones"
I was sooo sad and angry about the opposite of Love what I saw and heard in that session.
I think here,in this blog we can discuss not ''fight''.
We can say our truth without putdowns.
Form all sides I mean!!
Posted by: s* | September 11, 2018 at 12:49 PM
Jesse: "Manjit, liar extraordinaire."
Indeed, my lies are so extra-ordinary, that they travel forward through time:
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/radhasoamistudies/conversations/topics/97467
In Yoga there is the notion of a phenomena or siddhi called "para-vyak", that of true speech. Few people will understand it.
What I propose is a more understandable concept, one that is more readily understood and experienced by people. We have several masters of it here, on this very forum!:
Vacuous-speech; the power to make furious noise but signify nothing.
I am having so much fun engaging with a troll, far more than I ever thought I would!!! I may just stick around...(only teasing, this blog really is too boring, once you've heard the one-dimensional criticism and nihilistic futility, what more is there to learn)
:o)
Cheers!
Posted by: manjit | September 11, 2018 at 12:57 PM
"Vacuous-speech; the power to make furious noise but signify nothing"
Vacuous-Vyak - how did I miss that one, now I am gutted!
I shall depart with my tail between legs.....Vacuous-Vyak, so obvious an alliterative that was!
:(
Posted by: manjit | September 11, 2018 at 12:59 PM
You know about a fancy word that means truth, yet you're a liar who just got caught lying.
There are thousands of words that mean rich, but I don't become rich by telling you about the meaning of those words.
Manjit is a fraud, a liar and a less competent troll than I. Period.
Posted by: Jesse | September 11, 2018 at 01:40 PM
"Vacuous-speech; the power to make furious noise but signify nothing"
Vacuous-Vyak - how did I miss that one, now I am gutted!
I shall depart with my tail between legs.....Vacuous-Vyak, so obvious an alliterative that was.
Alas, Manjit, I shall miss thine hints of Shakespearean-soliloquy:
'It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing'
'Fare thee well, great heart! '
Posted by: Dungeness | September 11, 2018 at 01:53 PM
"Vacuous-speech; the power to make furious noise but signify nothing"
Vacuous-Vyak - how did I miss that one, now I am gutted!
I shall depart with my tail between legs.....Vacuous-Vyak, so obvious an alliterative that was.
Alas, Manjit, I shall miss thine hints of Shakespearean-soliloquy:
'It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing'
'Fare thee well, great heart! '
Posted by: Dungeness | September 11, 2018 at 01:53 PM
"Vacuous-speech; the power to make furious noise but signify nothing"
Vacuous-Vyak - how did I miss that one, now I am gutted!
I shall depart with my tail between legs.....Vacuous-Vyak, so obvious an alliterative that was.
Alas, Manjit, I shall miss thine hints of Shakespearean-soliloquy:
'It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing'
'Fare thee well, great heart! '
Posted by: Dungeness | September 11, 2018 at 01:53 PM
Wow, really enjoyed the passionate discussion between Jesse and Manjit, did I learn anything from it hmmm... the best part for me was this Eckhart quote that Brian posted about becoming "un-become"... lol
Meister Eckhart
We have the feeling that we are not yet real, that we only have the time between now and death to create, somehow, that reality which right now is painfully absent. Human life, therefore, is from the very first day an instinctive effort to “become,” yet Eckhart urges the necessity to “un-become,” that is, to reverse life’s underlying direction and goal.
He calls for the abandonment of all efforts to incorporate reality, to become, and to “make something” of ourselves and our lives. On the contrary, we are to work diligently to cut away whatever reality and substance it may seem that hard work or chance has created.
This reversal applies, above all, to all forms of inner and spiritual wealth. All attempts to acquire the right religious attitudes, accomplishments, and knowledge are to be abandoned. Turning aside from the goal of making ourselves spiritually, we must jettison whatever spiritual wealth, value, and standing we thought were ours.
Posted by: Jen | September 11, 2018 at 02:20 PM
Jen, somewhere back in the comments I sent a small apology to you. Read it if you can find it.
Posted by: Jesse | September 11, 2018 at 02:36 PM
Thanks Jesse, I do remember your nice comment, much appreciated :)
Posted by: Jen | September 11, 2018 at 03:13 PM
Brian posts FAKE NEWS....his sources are just as good as CNN's LOL
Posted by: PJ2000 | September 12, 2018 at 09:05 AM