Meditation in the Freezer

SN thought this was good for a chuckle! Amazing what people will believe. Many media outlets are covering this “story”.

  • Ashutosh Maharaj’s body was put in a freezer in January
  • The Indian spiritual leader reportedly suffered a fatal heart attack
  • Devoted believers insist he is meditating and is sending them messages

 

Ashutosh Maharaj, seen here on a billboard in Punjab, has been in deep freeze for six weeks

Ashutosh Maharaj, seen here on a billboard in Punjab, has been in deep freeze for six weeks

An Indian guru declared dead six weeks ago has been put into a deep freezer by his followers – who are convinced he will come back to life.

Ashutosh Maharaj, the leader of the Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan (Divine Light Awakening Mission), is said to be in a state of samadhi – the deepest form of meditation, according to his believers, and is sending them messages.

Mission spokesman Swami Vishalanand said followers were now waiting for him to end his meditation and expect him to step out of the freezer in the town of Nurmahal, in the state of Punjab, northern India. Until then they would perform their own meditation and spiritual ministrations.

‘Mahara-ji  is still sending messages through followers in their meditative stage to protect his body until he returns,’ Mr Vishalanand said.

The decision to place Maharaj in a freezer was challenged in court by a man claiming to be his former driver, who alleged several followers were not releasing the body because they wanted a share of the guru’s properties.

But the court rejected the man’s claim after receiving information from authorities confirming his death, reportedly from a heart attack.

The court rejected his pleas after the Punjab government said that the man is clinically dead and that it is up to his followers to decide what they want to do with the body,’ Reeta Kohli, additional advocate general of Punjab state, said.

Senior district police officer Gurinder Singh Dhillon said police ‘cannot interfere’ now that the court has made its ruling.

Maharaj’s website, which says the mission was founded in 1983 and has spiritual centres around the world, has thanked its followers for standing by the mission while the guru is ‘meditating’.

Mr Vishalanand said scores of spiritual leaders throughout history have traveled to the Himalayas for months of samadhi in freezing temperatures – before returning to life.

Another spokesman, who heads a nearby village where many of Maharaj’s followers are living, said: ‘When we close our eyes, we can talk to the Maharaj, who has assured us he will come back.’

Followers outside the gates to the ashram in Punjab, northern India. The Divine Light Awakening Mission claims to have millions of believers around the world

Followers outside the gates to the ashram in Punjab, northern India. The Divine Light Awakening Mission claims to have millions of believers around the world.

(thanks to Shantam)

 

 

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53 Responses to Meditation in the Freezer

  1. Fresch says:

    Teens are gurus to each other now.

    I give you one example about teenagers’ transparency. There is a popular app now in which everybody can ask you questions and you answer them. Then you have the followers and you also follow other people. This is what I called before “open source” in human evolvement.

    It’s not like someone who is a good performer starts giving satsangs, like old days Indian gurus ( milking a cow), everybody, even 15 years old are gurus of their friends and at the same time following some of their friends, who are gurus too…

    Teens have been doing it at each other’s millions of times in just one year. So, this will have a huge impact; especially young people are not that stupid like we were. That’s humanity evolving.

    However, I still see there is really a need for a slow spiritual movement, like slowing down, slow journalism etc. However, it’s good, that the stuff that can go fast away, goes faster away than ever.

    • satyadeva says:

      It surely depends on the questions, Fresch – and the quality of the answers.

      I wonder if most of the topics discussed are largely ‘surface’ matters, and how often people go into things in depth.

      Anyway, teenagers have a whole lotta living to do, they’re just ‘getting their experience’, and although they might have much to say, they also have a hell of a lot to learn, which only experience can give them.

      They might think they know stuff through this mass electro-magnetic communication, but if they haven’t ‘lived’ it then it’s still relatively superficial knowledge.

      So in the light of this, I wonder what exactly you think is the value of it all.

  2. Parmartha says:

    This “Divine Light Awakening Mission” is bit derivative to say the least.
    If you look at their website you see some members going around in orange and wearing a mala… also that name, doesn’t it have a familiar ring?

  3. shantam prem says:

    Not even sky is the limit as far as creating myths around late spiritual leaders are concerned. If followers have their say, ” They won´t hesitate to declare, sun moon and the cosmos goes for periodic change, when their guru sneezes in heaven.”
    The present story is quite morbid in the myth-making, divine hearts of disciples. But its socially accepted form is prevalent for centuries, that my greatest one is and will always take care of me. From heaven he will always remind me, when prepaid account needs recharging.

  4. Lokesh says:

    Both animal models and human studies have overwhelmingly demonstrated that hypothermia, when present during or after a period of brain injury or ischemia, exacerbates the degree of resulting neuronal injury. In other words, if Ashutosh Maharaj wakes up he will be so brain damaged from the freezer that he will make a carrot look positively Einsteinian in comparison.

  5. madhu dagmar frantzen says:

    friends,

    why not have a good read into the
    “Baron Munchhausen” story (wicki) with its links to
    “the Munchhausen syndrome” and the “Munchhausen trilemma”

    or some of the brothers Grimm fairy tales associated with that….?

    the people mentioned above are happy to live in a culture where people are not put in mental asylums when they show up with “their” ways of dealing with facts of life and death and what they call love or devotion
    and i love cultures which are in a way much more compassionate than the one i am living in
    so better to leave them alone and having their “thing”
    also leave them alone with our comments

    western approaches are very much more aggressive i feel
    when they go beyond borders or in missionary treks

    and that’s what i really am afraid of

    sometimes

    have a beautiful weekend you all !

    madhu

    • satyadeva says:

      madhu, you say, “the people mentioned above are happy to live in a culture where people are not put in mental asylums when they show up with “their” ways of dealing with facts of life and death and what they call love or devotion”

      No, Madhu, these people are patently believing in convenient untruth, wish-fulfilling fantasy, delusion, thus avoiding the plain facts of life and death, and so deserve all the mockery and criticism they get (which doesn’t necessarily imply locking them up in asylums, btw!).

      But the real culprits are whoever’s put this rubbish into their heads – priests again, I guess. Or perhaps even the guru himself? Now they might be candidates for the asylum…

      Still, as SN says, it’s good for laugh….

  6. madhu dagmar frantzen says:

    agreed – satyadeva -

    what i wanted to point at
    BESIDES the “Munchhausen story”
    and did you google ?
    was
    that some of my experience has been
    when “the priest” as a role is dissolved in ourselves
    we don’t need to get in so much fighting
    especially not in areas we are, in our everyday lives, not involved at all -
    what has become predominant in my life is to look at issues where groups or cults become very aggressive and harassing others
    what happens here in the West more often meanwhile
    and up to trying to annihilate others on “missions”
    so my laughter – if there is any – is more compassionate, like a sad smile
    i might have when reading the “Baron of Munchhausen story”

    i just asked myself as i am doing always on this spot
    why the hell is that issue put here on this spot?

    it will work out the way it will work out
    and it’s WE -like always – who will be seen a little bit more

    more
    or
    less

    madhu

    • satyadeva says:

      But don’t you see how absurdly funny this also is, Madhu?

    • satyadeva says:

      Madhu, you say,
      “what has become predominant in my life is to look at issues where groups or cults become very aggressive and harassing others
      what happens here in the West more often meanwhile
      and up to trying to annihilate others on “missions” ”

      I think you’ll surely find that no regular contributor here speaks on behalf of any group or cult, whether Sannyas or not. Any criticism of or poking fun at someone or something is an individual’s view, not necessarily that of anyone else.

      I’m not interested at all in being a ‘channel’ for some sort of ‘group mind’ and I wouldn’t think your concern here re harassment/persecution applies to sannyasins, although there was a certain amount of a ‘know-it-all’, ‘superior’ mentality in certain quarters, the sort of mistakenly arrogant attitude that led to the PR disaster around Rajneeshpuram.

      As I said earlier, why not just enjoy the absurdity of what’s going on at that ‘Divine Light’ ashram?!

  7. Fresch says:

    It’s Osho in mausoleum….you know by whom.

  8. Fresch says:

    Is it not strange that Osho would be living only with new people and a handful of people getting their income from them? And rest of the people are negative, passive and complaining or doing politics.

    What freezing cult stuff.

    Would it be Putin or Stalin to do so? I think it’s the Putin way.

  9. Fresch says:

    I was once told a story about a house that got on the Russian side of the border during the war, which used to be very beautiful, upper-class people’s summer place. Well, when it got into the hands of communists they turned it into a children’s summer camp facility. When communism deteriorated nobody took care of it any more and it collapsed. So, everybody thought it was horrible that communists did not take care of it (because they said the rich family would have done so, but they would have been the only ones to be allowed to use it, of course).

    I never said anything, but I was always thinking how much fun those poor kids must have had in such a house they never could have entered before communism. And after all, it’s not about the house, but about the people. Living people.

  10. shantam prem says:

    Two kind of situations amaze me at sannyasnews.
    Till now, i have not found the psychological ground.
    Let us say, I am the most abusive and negative one about the holy- groly system of autocracy prevailing in Pune. Thousands of people who were part of Osho caravan speak about this in hush-hush tone.
    What amazes me is that why none of them come forward and contradict my nonsense or support if it makes sense.

    Theoretically, if we love something, it becomes an unasked but heartfelt duty to stand with that idea or person. Surely people can look other way round to see some stranger falling on the road.

    Second thing which amazes me is the mindset of Lokesh and Satya Deva. indeed, they give good company and make this forum lively, but why the hell they don’t share their thoughts on the forums run by Meera or late Punja-ji’s people? the holy people closer to their hearts. For them they will never use any satire, any analytical observation but with Osho!

    I hope they will aknowledge the fact that people passing through Osho structure have better and juicy way of communication than those, who are just waiting with 100 Dollars in Pockets for first class journey to heaven!

    • satyadeva says:

      “but why the hell they don’t share their thoughts on the forums run by Meera or late Punja-ji’s people?”

      Not only do you avoid answering questions, Shantam, here – yet again – you demonstrate that you simply don’t read others’ posts. Or that you take no notice whatsoever of what’s in them. And/or that you’re just too stuck in your stubbornly held beliefs to bother to modify your erroneous preconceptions.

      Thus, as well as H TAQ (etc.) you appear to have a full qualification in H TIT COOP (How To Ignore The Content Of Others’ Posts).

      So it’s really pretty obvious why you don’t understand others’ “mindsets” here, isn’t it?

    • Arpana says:

      Sie haben keine Glaubwürdigkeit hier.

      • shantam prem says:

        Sie haben keine Glaubwürdigkeit hier.
        Let me translate this for you, Herr Arpana.
        You don’t have any credibility here.

        Then my dear one, ask people with credibility (Glaubwürdigkeit) to contradict me. You are like a girl who has not even got her first date yet speaks like a seasoned mother.

        I have written time and again, anyone who has lived around Osho in Pune from 1985 onwards should feel free to contradict me. I can even pay with my gratitude for showing the other side of the coin.

    • Lokesh says:

      Shri Mahachuddie, you enquire, why the hell I don’t share their thoughts on the forums run by Meera or late Punja-ji’s people?

      The idea never occured to me and probably never will. I have better thngs to do with my time.

      You go on to conclude, ‘the holy people closer to their hearts.’ This requires a comparison. I appreciated spending time with H W L Poonja and I also greatly appeciate the years I spent around Osho. As to who was closer to my heart I could not really say, because they were so different kinds of men. I enjoyed both of them and learned from both of them and if I wished to compare them on certain levels I could but really there exists no need for that in my mind, perhaps because what I discovered with Poonjaji I would not have been capable of understanding had it not been for the valuable years I spent around Osho.

      As for matters of the heart, no such equation exists. Take the best and leave the rest. For me it is the past and currently I am working with a teaching that has nothng to do with either of these men. I have moved on in my life, something which you appear incapable of, because your vision is grounded in the past and wishing that the present could somehow return to how it once was instead of how it actually is now. That is your business. To me it looks like a complete waste of time and completely contrary to how I choose to live my life, thanks in part to both Osho and H W L Poonja.

      • bodhi vartan says:

        Lokesh says:
        >> currently I am working with a teaching that has nothing to do with either of these men.

        That is what you think. It looks to me like you are compartmentalizing, swami. Care to share your current preoccupation? I am not being facetious but sincerely interested.

        • Lokesh says:

          Compartmentalization makes me think of the Japanese, and that is it as far as personal associative thought goes.
          My current preoccupations are painting the exterior of my house and working on a commissioned canvas. I can post a photo when the latter is completed.
          As for the teaching I referred to, I will maybe sit down and write an article for a new thread, when I find the time, and thus provide a clue to my current internal direction.

          • bodhi vartan says:

            Cool. I am looking forward to that. Recently I’ve been meeting some of the sannyasins who have moved-on, so to speak, and into other teachings. I find the inter-phasing and opinions fascinating.

            Personally, I would like to see mysticism get into politics through attacking politics.

            • Lokesh says:

              BV, only politics I was ever interested in was Leary’s ‘Politcs of Ecstasy’, back in the sixties. I turned on, tuned in and dropped out. Today, I drop back in from time to time, but prefer to sit on the sidelines and watch as history swirls by in a puff of smoke. Easy rider, doing my own thing in my own time. Osho once claimed to be the ultimate drop-out. I can dig it, man.

              • bodhi vartan says:

                Compos mentis interruptus Lokesh… on:

                10 February, 2014 at 6:24 pm
                http://sannyasnews.org/now/archives/3407

                …you said you never heard of Timothy Leary. Were you having a senior moment, or being a biggus dickus?

                As it happens (recently) I have also been reaching similar conclusion, to perhaps leave the fight to The Young Ones (heard of them?) but it won’t stop me philosophising right through Alzheimer’s and beyond.

  11. shantam prem says:

    Lokesh has moved on his life and writes at sannyasnews!
    It is like happily married man sniffs the souvenirs left by girlfriend of teenage years!
    Anyway, self-illusions are fundamental rights. I won’t sntach from others!

    • Arpana says:

      Shantam has not moved on his life and writes at sannyasnews!
      It is like happily married man sniffs the souvenirs left by girlfriend of teenage years!
      Anyway, self-illusions are fundamental rights. I won’t sntach from him.

    • bodhi vartan says:

      shantam prem says:
      >> Lokesh has moved on his life and writes at sannyasnews!

      And why are you writing at sannyasnews, Shantam?

      (There is a story about a bunch of ‘birds’ making their way to heaven only to find just themselves there. And it relates to my question.)

  12. shantam prem says:

    It is a common saying in India, ” Even to copy you need some brain.”
    Arpana can copy but out of context, like wearing the pants front side back.

    I have never claimed to move so it is valid and ethical for me to write at Osho’s media.
    And boy, why your heart bleeds for Lokesh? Lokesh is quite capable and smart to take the volley.

    Maybe you need a living human being as Icon!

    • Arpana says:

      Shantam.
      Still burblin like a girl who has not even got her first date yet speaks like a seasoned mother.

    • satyadeva says:

      “I have never claimed to move so it is valid and ethical for me to write at Osho’s media.”

      Who suggests otherwise, Shantam?

      However, what’s questionable, even ‘invalid’, is your not bothering to read and answer points and questions others put to you.

      That undermines the purpose of such a forum/blog and consequently (again using your terms) you may be said to indulge in ‘unethical’ behaviour.

      As the saying goes, ‘Physician, heal thyself!’, ie in this case, Shantam, first see your hypocrisy, your unconsciousness.

      Is that difficult?

      • Lokesh says:

        Although addresed to Shri Mahachuddie the question about it being difficult to see the work of the unconscious at work is a good one. I’d say that for your average person it is indeed difficult.

        Mahachuddie simply does not get it. He never stops to question why it is that he has adopted the stance he has, especially in regard to change in how Pune Three is run. He is looking for change on the outside, while all the time neglecting to change how his world inside is. If he were to do that he would realize he is simply wasting his time.

        The real revolution is an inner one, something his guru, Osho, laid heavy emphasis on. Yet day in, day out he continues his self-righteous one man crusade to change the world while totally neglecting the sound advice of his spiritual teacher to change himself. This has come about due to the power of the unconscious accompanied by its programmes, put in place due to the cicumstances of his birth, social upbringing etc. For all his posturing it is clear by now that he lives in the dark, while imagining himself to be a light warrior….a regular incarnation of Don Quixote, battling imaginary foes on a non-existent battleground. And people wonder why war is a constant on our planet.

        The unconscious rules mankind. Man himself is a seed with only a rare few having the guts and determination to help that seed develop. As for the mass of humanity, which includes the Shantams of this world, they will plough on through the darkness, totally neglecting the seed that is their potential, which in time will shrivel up and die for it hs been cast on stony ground. where the light required for its nourishment can not reach.

  13. shantam prem says:

    One article is brewing in my mind about my personal opinion about Osho’s internet media.
    I wish to write my feelings about five chosen Osho relatedwebsites, which i visit quite often.
    God willing, then i take 3 months Sabbatical from sannyasnews.
    Enough time i have spend here in the community’s no barred platform. So some gap is important.
    I know i have taken much space here, now someone else will do batting and fielding.
    So His beloved ones, at the end of this month i go for “unpaid” holidays.

    • Lokesh says:

      It is a point of interest, Shri Mahachuddie, that you see yourself in a running conflict, batting and fielding as you say. How true it is that we all live in our own world.
      You say, God willing, then i take 3 months sabbatical from sannyasnews. Let’s see if you can stick by that.

  14. Ashok says:

    “SN thought this was good for a chuckle.”

    I think it must be patently obvious to most viewers here that I am not averse to a chuckle, and have often attempted to inject a certain sense of humour (with varying degrees of success), into the pages of SN from time to time.

    However, in this particular case I am not prompted to chuckle, nor smile nor grin even…. what I feel is sadness. Yes SADNESS…believe it or not! That people should believe such ridiculous nonsense as a frozen meditation master sending messages from the grave etc. is really rather sad.

    Yes…of course I am grateful that SN should attempt to introduce topics of a lighter-hearted nature into the dire mire of what is often served up here e.g. ‘thrash your favourite stubborn donkey’, but I don’t think that in this case it has worked for me.

    What is really required here is some understanding and compassion, I feel.

    FROM A SINNER WHO IS SURPRISED BY HIS OWN FEELINGS.

    • bodhi vartan says:

      Ashok says:
      “What is really required here is some understanding and compassion, I feel.”

      You can do the understanding and compassion but I am just going to have a good laugh and ponder in case I am holding any beliefs that upon examination might appear as stupid as this thread’s.

      • Ashok says:

        Boooh hooh! (tears are flowing down my cheeks)
        Am I the only one around here with a kind, sensitive, generous and sweet, compassionate heart? I thought that opening your heart was what being an Osho sannyasin was all about? I am disappointed, BV, because for some reason I had come to expect something better from you. You had, I felt, in your previous posts, elevated yourself above the level of the hybrid crocodile-cum-hyena, feathered, furred and scaly, pond-life critters that one often encounters hereabouts.

        However, in your defence, you did go on to write something which I thought was highly sensible, e.g. “…ponder in case I am holding any beliefs that upon examination might appear as stupid as this thread’s.” Now you’re talking my language. A very wise recommendation indeed, which I think all sannyasins would be wise to heed. For a start, those who think that Osho was a prolific book writer, might like to start pondering, for example…….

        • satyadeva says:

          Perhaps “being a sannyasin” is not about indulging in such blindingly ignorant claptrap, holding on to superstitious, infantile hope, unable or unwilling to face the fact of death?

          If you’ve responded in similar fashion to this absurd story yourself, Ashok, then perhaps a good look into the roots of such a sentimental proclivity might be in order?

          Such childish foolishness shows the limitations of a certain kind of ‘devotee’ mentality, unfortunately all too typical of many Indians, who’ve never been taught differently, or who just refuse to listen to the truth if/when it’s put to them. A good lesson for anyone who feels tempted towards that treacherous way.

          • Ashok says:

            Well I never! Really Satyadeva….you of all people…telling me to take a look at the ‘root of my sentimental proclivity!!!!’ ….. you ought to be ashamed of yourself! Pleased be advised that my sentimental proclivity is a matter for me and my most intimate tantric partners only!

            Now as regards the rest of your post, I think it would be fair to say that we are not too far apart. ‘Ignorant claptrap’ (I personally shudder when I hear the second word in this powerful expression due to my own painful life experiences), and ‘childish foolishness’ (a subject close to my heart ), are both apt and well-chosen in describing the preposterous beliefs and ‘devotee mentality’ you have highlighted. On these very serious matters, we are in agreement, hence my inclination not to treat this thread topic as a laughing matter.

            Indeed I think it should be looked at in the context of possible mental illness and/or retarded development or whatever, because for somebody to actually believe the nonsense described in the lead post, would require them to not be in their ‘right minds’ as it were. It surely should not be necessary for me at this point to illustrate what kind of dangerous behavior this kind of deranged mental state might lead to.

            Therefore, in conclusion, I would like to say that my kind of ‘understanding and compassion’ translates into having ‘crazy devotees’, locked away in the appropriate institutions where they are neither a danger to themselves or others.

            • satyadeva says:

              Ashok, you say, “Well I never! Really Satyadeva….you of all people…telling me to take a look at the ‘root of my sentimental proclivity!!!!”

              Just checking – what exactly do you mean by “you of all people” here? Or is it just a bit of ‘harmless banter’?

              • Ashok says:

                Yes, SD, be rest assured, it was indeed just a little bit of harmless playing around and definitely not meant to be taken seriously. The phrase you had used ‘roots of such a sentimental proclivity’, had stimulated the creative juices of my innuendo-infested mind and so I decided to run with it in my own crazy way. The rest of the post, however, was intended for the most part to be a serious reply.

        • bodhi vartan says:

          When someone falls over in the snow it is always funny. If he hurts himself then it stops being funny. In this occasion, of freezing the guru, nobody is getting hurt so I feel it is ok to continue to have a good laugh.

        • bodhi vartan says:

          Even more craziness. Hehe. (sorry Ashok)

          What are the pearl like objects found in monk’s ashes after cremation?
          http://www.thecontroversialfiles.net/2014/03/what-are-pearl-like-objects-found-in.html

  15. madhu dagmar frantzen says:

    friends,

    yesterday, around lunchtime and afternoon
    has not been easy, to say the least
    just to look at -
    virtual waves quite suffocating

    taking responsibility just for the “look” not easy at all

    when i read your proclaiming taking an unpaid holiday – shantam prem -
    a sabbatical how you declared it
    i have been asking myself if you have been paid before ?
    and when ?
    by whom? or what institution ?

    you won t probably answer that – if….
    but i like to put out that question anyway to you, as my understanding is so far that the here temporarily appearing members are coming for their hearts’ concern to connect with issues they are moved by and to share -

    it’s not easy at all to drop illusions
    for everybody !
    and /or develop as well as sometimes cancel
    dreams of a togetherness, “a meeting of friends” co-operating

    moment to moment, a new chance to remember the latter -

    have a good day- in samasati terms -

    everybodies – nobodies -

    and true
    sometimes i would like to meet you here in some beer garden and share a picnic and some fabulous jokes

    love

    madhu

    • Lokesh says:

      Madhu, such is the extent of Shri Mahachuddie’s delusion he actually believes he needs to take a break from SN because he imagines himself to be performing some very important work here. Unbelievable but true.

  16. bodhi vartan says:

    “To die is human – it took 55 days and 450 policemen to drill this simple truth into the minds of the members of the Santan Dal.

    After they had stubbornly refused to cremate their guru, Balak Brahmachari, insisting that he would emerge from his “meditative trance”, the police managed to retrieve his body from the ashram following a pitched battle last fortnight.”

    http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/santan-dals-guru-balak-brahmachari-finally-cremated-after-55-days/1/302657.html

    • satyadeva says:

      I found myself chuckling at the, to me, ‘same old same old, heard it all before somewhere’ ring of the final paragraph, despite its serious implications. And the last sentence is a gem!

      “The police have sealed the ashram and are probing its affairs. A few bombs were found in the ashram and there are charges of land-grabbing against the sect. The controversy, unlike the Brahmachari, shows no signs of dying.”

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