stripping the gurus - Brahma Kumaris Info

SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE A GOD 153
nation-based interpretations (e.g., Yogananda, 1946), was also
John the Baptist. Cohen, on the other hand, plays the part of Elisha,
or Jesus Christ.
Such a comparison might well have displeased Poonja, however,
given his positively unbridled attitude toward his own spiritual
attainment:
“I’m only jealous of one man,” [Poonja] said. “Who was that?”
I asked. “The Buddha,” he replied, “he’s the only one who
surpassed me” (Cohen, 1992).
Of course, being the foremost disciple of such an exalted figure
is bound to do wonders for one’s self-image. Thus, in Andrew’s own
reported, enlightened words (in Tarlo, 1997):
[V]ery few people like me exist in the world. I can destroy a
person’s karma.... If you trust me, I have the power to completely
destroy your past.
Anyone who loves me ... is guaranteed enlightenment.
You know, Luna, sometimes I feel like a god.
Regarding “Luna”: Cohen always referred to his mother by her
first name, even before his “enlightenment.”
At any rate, the god-like Andy C. quickly took his wife as a
disciple, and reportedly pressured his mother (Tarlo, 1997) into the
same—thus exhibiting atrociously poor judgment in both of those
relationships. Nevertheless, the latter mother, in particular, was
soon to benefit from Cohen’s spiritual largesse, apparently being
informed over afternoon tea—to her own surprise—that she was
now enlightened.
Another disciple, Dvora, evidently profited comparably, reportedly
being notified one morning by Andrew that “her enlightenment
was complete” (Tarlo, 1997). Being thus ostensibly fully
enlightened, however, apparently did not absolve loyal disciples
such as Dvora of discipline at the hands of the guru. Indeed, she
seems to have discovered that the hard way when bleakly informing
Andrew of her parents’ pressures on her to come home, i.e., to
leave India and Cohen: