Satan and Kal

Here's a guest blog post from Bob Russo, who sent this essay to me a while back. I recently discovered it in the depths of my email inbox, liked it, and asked Russo if it would be OK to share it on Church of the Churchless.

He said, "sure." Enjoy some thoughts about Satan and Kal. "Kal" is how the so-called Negative Power is viewed by an Eastern religion, Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB), a branch of Sant Mat.

Growing up within the crystalline and dualistic (heaven and hell; Jesus and Satan) landscape of Catholicism and having the Pope to look to for spiritual direction (as a representative of Christ on earth), it was just one hop, skip, and a jump from that world to Radha Soami (Guru path). 

The only difference between the two was that I now had a Perfect Living Master to guide me out of Satan’s (Kal’s) world to Sach Khand (True Land) above.   

So what we have in both systems is the unruly hands of some “negative power” whose goal is to lead the spiritual seeker astray. 

This concept of a negative power or satanic force goes back thousands of years to Ancient Judaism and probably beyond that. Yet, apparently more strident than any “satanic” temptation is the use of this concept by religious leaders and spiritual groups to ingest fear into the minds of sincere individuals and thus control them. 

It’s the same ole problem, reaction, solution scenario that we see played out time and time again under authoritarian religious organizations, which RSSB is certainly one of. They identify YOUR problem and of course, as part of their modus operandi, have the solution.      

Consequently, during a recent trip to Shambala bookstore on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley, I couldn’t help being drawn to a book entitled The Origin of Satan, by Elaine Pagels.

What made this book a must read for me was its historical overview of Satan from Judaism through early Christianity, and, IMO [in my opinion], seeing a blending together of adversarial roles he/she played (or plays) in both religions and with Kal’s role in Sant Mat.  I suspect the concept of a negative power or entity found its way to Northern India from the Middle East.  

Without going into too much detail, it appears that Satan may have evolved from being part of God’s Grand Hierarchy and his loyal servant, as in Sant Mat (Radha Soami path), to one opposed to God in his/her entirety in early Christianity (the fallen angel set apart from God). In Judaism, Satan’s role was to obstruct human activity, that is, to create chaos, misfortune, conflict, and to test the soul’s loyalty to God (see story of Job).       

During my years in Sant Mat, whenever mention was made of the hapless condition of the world, with its wars, hunger, and plagues, it wasn’t long before someone would comment or read something from an RSSB book on not expecting more from Kal’s domain.  

In RSSB, Kal is responsible for humankind’s screwups and misfortunes as we see with the Satan of Judaism (since Kal is the ruler of the three lower worlds). And as such, continues to confuse humankind as it helplessly and aimlessly drifts about with no direction in sight (until the Perfect Living Master comes to the rescue).    

According to RSSB theology, once an individual gets initiated the situation changes because although Kal rules the world, anything that happens to the Satsangi (followers of the Radha Soami path) is supposedly the amiable work of the Master. 

IMO, this whole thing is very confusing, because if an earthquake strikes and both Satsangis and non-Satsangis are injured, then who do we claim is responsible for the earthquake, the Master or Kal?   

Now, with the development of Christianity, Satan evolved into an evil entity completely opposed to God as seen in the New Testament where Satan was held responsible for the arrest and execution of Jesus.  And, the Jews unfortunately, were labeled as agents of Satan for having played their fateful part in Jesus’ death.

(We can effortlessly glance into history to see the results of this horrific prejudice that has cost the Jewish people countless lives and hardships over the past two millennium). Thus, a major rift grew between this new religious movement called Christianity (which had a lot of Jewish members), and the Jewish people, particularly the Judaic religious ruling class.   

Now, as Christianity grew, most people were looking for “rules” and guidance on how to be true Christians. Thus, an “orthodox” branch of Christianity made firm headway among this new religion, and as such, became institutionalized with its various do’s and don’ts, priests, and bishops. This new branch of Christianity (which evolved into the Catholic Church), ultimately labeled any other branch of Christianity and all other religions for that matter, as evil products of Satan.   

Certain members of this orthodox branch, such as Tertullian, whom according to Pagels, was a convert from Carthage in Northern Africa around 180 C. E., denounced all those who deviated from the “majority” or orthodox teachings as heretics. 

What I found interesting is that the Greek translation for heresy (hairesis) is choice. Therefore, one who makes a choice is a heretic. 

Pagels mentions on pg.164 of her book that Tertullian insists that making choices is evil, since choice destroys group unity (which probably means less control and $ for the spiritual elite leaders).  She goes on to quote Tertullian as saying “that church leaders must not allow people to ask questions, for it is questions that make people heretics.”    

Since Satan was opposed to God, it becomes quite clear that Christians were involved in a sort of spiritual cosmic war between good and evil. They, of course, represented good, while all “unorthodox” Christians and pagans were viewed as agents of Satan.

Pagels writes on pg. 165, “Instead of admitting Christians into debates over the Scriptures, Tertullian says, ‘straight thinking’ (the literal translation of orthodox) Christians must simply claim the Scriptures as their own exclusive property’…but, how do heretics come up with such ingenious and persuasive arguments from Scripture?  Their inspiration comes, Tertullian says, ‘from the devil, of course, to whom belong the wiles that distort the truth’”.

How’s that for enforcing mind control? We can also see how “ownership” of the “truth” as “exclusive property” is a prized tool in controlling the masses!

Thus, although more subtle, IMO, the Radha Soami tradition, at least in Beas, has firm distain for any polemic or  “revealing” questions that may potentially uproot the reality or spiritual competency of the guru and/or the philosophy he represents (this is quite obvious to me from their response to internet discussions of RS and their letters to David Lane). 

And, as a friend mentioned recently, a ”true believer” will never ask the real questions while those that would are probably never going to be there to ask them in the first place.

Here we are in the year 2002, and we can still walk the streets of Dera or stroll along the freshly landscaped gardens of Petaluma or visit the cascading waters of Calvary Baptist College (formerly Murrieta Hot Springs) and what will we find in common among the members of each group? 

A firm belief that they, themselves, are the “chosen” ones, the lucky few who have God on their side while the rest of the world wallows in Satan’s nebulous and dingy shadow! For the Fundamentalist Christian, the cosmic war between good and evil is alive and well today while for the satsangi, this dreary epic is faced each day in meditation.    

Unfortunately, this dualistic outlook has created a split society or “them and us” mentality that has caused unimaginable pain, suffering, and death to countless individuals and unbearable hardship to innumerable families throughout modern history. 

And, this “split” is not limited to externals but has caused considerable mental anguish and cognitive problems to individuals living within a strict right versus wrong world.  

Comments

[You’re preaching to the choir]

EXCELLENT POST!!!

Amen, Brother. 🙏

[um]

>>Unfortunately, this dualistic outlook has created a split society or “them and us” mentality that has caused unimaginable pain, suffering, and death to countless individuals and unbearable hardship to innumerable families throughout modern history.

And, this “split” is not limited to externals but has caused considerable mental anguish and cognitive problems to individuals living within a strict right versus wrong world. <<

It is an simple fact to be seen that everything in the universe is "given" its place.
Given, doesn't mean that there is a giver, it only stresses the fact that nothing has the power to make itself seen as it is seen.

The crow has its life as a crow and so do the nightingale and the eagle.

To be born in a certain setting, that too, is given. As we are alive, all of us have to accept the inner ant outer circumstances we have to live in our life.

The idea that things can change for the better, lies at the bottom of all misery, nothing else.

If the crow is made to think that he is a lesser creature than the eagle and the nightingale and he believes it, the things written in this blog are the result.

And ... for any group to function effectively as a whole, maintain its structure etc, all members have to operate ... literally and/or figurative in an UNI-form manner, like the army does.

If the "yes ....but" voices are not in line with the direction of the group but focused on the line of command, sooner or later the whole group will crumble down as lose sand and loses its cohesive power and with it its effect.

Stand shoulder by shoulder, means that there is a common focus, goal, interest etc .
Standing that way one does not see one another in the eyes, one will not be distracted by personal differences. As soon as one turns ones head towards the others, the focus is lost out of sight and the goal cannot longer be reached.

So the best thing a crow can do is be a crow.

[albert medina]

Not once in this essay has the word "karma" been mentioned or inferred. The negative overlord, Kal Niranjan, is the prime cause of karma and the mind of every human being follows the same outbound impulse, creating karma every moment. Karma and reincarnation are "facts of lower life" for those affiliated with Sant Mat. Karma presents a huge problem for those who are keenly interested in becoming karma-free (nish karma). If the Sat Guru is True, the karmas of His disciples are quickly eradicated due to the power entrusted to that Living Master. Admittedly, this is a big "IF". Karmas are uncountable in number and cannot be liquidated by the mere efforts of the human being no matter how many lives are experienced. Usually, more karmas are accumulated with each life. It may also be mentioned that, in Sant Mat doctrine, if karmas still exist reincarnation is necessary. Karma is the impelling force downwards and outwards which propels every life form into existence, enabling one to "act". Karma means "action".

[Cousin Zigzag]

Murrieta Hot Springs went fundamentalist Christian? Money, money, money. Well, as of 12 days ago it's up for sale!
https://patch.com/california/murrieta/historic-43-acre-bible-college-sale-murrieta

Satan wins! Here's an idea. If you run a Bible college, read the Bible!

>Matthew 6:19-21
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

>1 Timothy 6:10
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

[Uchit]

@The only difference between the two was that I now had a Perfect Living Master to guide me out of Satan’s (Kal’s) world to Sach Khand (True Land) above.

Ever wandered why GSD and RSSB talk allot about Kaal, and hide and dismiss satan the prince of lies? it is because they do not want you to know that the devil exists and right under your noses in plain sight. They try to dismiss all the evil and sadness in the world as just your ego and you are totally responsible, when in fact the susceptible have been influenced under heavy hypnosis to make wrong choices. In fact GSD and RSSB are part of the same team as satan. These evil forces work tirelessly at influencing, traping, tricking the sangat and keeping them ignorant and keeping there lives a misery. This gives these trickster dark forces , disguised as love and light, free entry into your subconscious, because you willingly call them into your life by repeating their mantras thinking it is the solution to your misery in this life when infact it traps you further into the spiders web of lies. They then play havoc in your lives, and laugh at how easy it is to fool the sangat into there hands once you are in full control. RSSB blame sangats misery as bad karma from your last lives, but it's mostly these entities that play havoc and cause friction. Be very careful as GSD is the devil in disguise, he is fully possed by his puppet masters to do their deeds on earth - you have been warned. It is your ignorance they take advantage of.

[Jen]

My thoughts about life and how to deal with it is "Acceptance". Simply living from moment to moment. But then of course our brain will insist on trying to work things out.

How can we understand what this world is and why we are here? Also, why do people believe in some sort of God or some kind of opposite called the Devil? Do we all live in duality? Maybe there are no answers to our questions and beliefs.

“Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible is a disciple of death. Whoever is soft and yielding is a disciple of life.” — Lao Tzu

[Neon]

Its true. Radha soamis are the most egotistical people on earth.

[manoj]

Satan and Kal two sides of the same coin.

He hides from the world, and secretly works through the so called religious leaders of this world, such as the Great Goon Gurinder Baba.

Who knowingly has done a deal with him to mislead and devour the human souls he so desperately desires.

This is what GSD is all about a little selfish weasel of a man who thinks selfishly only of  himself. You get nothing in return, you deserve nothing as you're just not worthy of anything. While his royal @ss gets it all!

Mind control, Manipulation, Dark forces, Greed, Fraud, Murder, Lustful ways, Love of the Dollar, and the list goes on and on and on.....

Satan & Kal = GSD
Perfect living master my, @ss!

[S]

See, the problem with all religious paths is they say the Truth can’t be understood by the mind.

Bullshit.

[S]

The mind KNOWS the truth. Most of us just keep lying to ourselves to support our superstitions, fear of “God” and our egos.

[Cousin Zigzag]

When you speak Latin out of the blue, know people's darkest sins and float off the bed when clergy make a house call, consult a psychiatrist who's also a nice Catholic...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2016/07/01/as-a-psychiatrist-i-diagnose-mental-illness-and-sometimes-demonic-possession/

[S]

Cousin Zigzag,

I can see how that struck a cord with you. Are you on some nice psyche meds now?

[CZ]

S,
That guy should be on psych meds. He invented a new pseudoscience.
Parapsychiatry.

[S]

CZ,

Oh... 😂😂🤣

I don’t know—you hear some pretty crazy, inexplicable stories. You know the movie The Exorcist was based on a true story. You should read about the poor girl who went through such a horrific experience. It really defies everything that science or religion can explain.

There are still some pretty unique and bizarre experiences that are so far beyond normal. It’s very sad and something I choose not to dwell on.

There are some things in this world that I don’t even want to understand. I’m not looking for the answers to them because I don’t even want to think about them. Most people are that way about one thing or another.

[S]

CZ,

I’m still volunteering for the Angel of Death position. Think about it, Demons and bad people can’t hurt anyone if they are sent to heaven because in heaven everyone’s happy.

So, I would send every person, entity and being to heaven, no questions asked. All Hell does is perpetuate the insanity and madness of this world.

And although what I have just shared is is mostly allegorical, I would definitely send everyone and everything to a happy place no matter what.

What kind of God wants to see suffering? It’s ridiculous to think that God would want that.

We humans hold such profoundly barbaric beliefs about a higher power.

[anami]

May I interject? Wikipedia writes off the story behind The Exorcist as a maladjusted teenage boy's sick antics. His Aunt was a spiritualist and introduced him to the Ouija board, and neighbors said he was always playing pranks on his mom and other kids. "On one occasion the boy was reportedly seen scratching the words 'hell' and 'christ' on his chest by using his own fingernails." One of the last surviving witnesses, Jesuit priest Father Walter H. Halloran, expressed skepticism. "Halloran, who was present at the exorcism, never heard the boy's voice change, and he thought the boy merely mimicked Latin words he heard clergymen say, rather than gaining a sudden ability to speak Latin." Most of the retelling was based on hearsay. An investigator, Mark Opasnick, explained, "To psychiatrists, Rob Doe suffered from mental illness. To priests this was a case of demonic possession. To writers and film/video producers this was a great story to exploit for profit. Those involved saw what they were trained to see. Each purported to look at the facts but just the opposite was true — in actuality they manipulated the facts and emphasized information that fit their own agendas."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exorcism_of_Roland_Doe

[S]

Wikipedia? Really?

https://allthatsinteresting.com/roland-doe-the-exorcist-true-story

[S]

Anami,

I think you’re right, though...