stripping the gurus - Brahma Kumaris Info

332 STRIPPING THE GURUS
ram administrator provided for the lack of publication of
that information was simply, and predictably, that “that’s
the way the Board of Directors and Daya Mata want it
done”
• The degree to which one is expected to “respect one’s elders”
as a good and obedient devotee of SRF was underscored
by the following (real) exchange, quoted during a
sermon at Hidden Valley:
Elder: “How are you?”
Youthful Inferior: “I’m fine. How are you?”
Elder (disgusted at the impudence): “Are you a doctor?”
• Or, consider the changes made to the proffered definitions
of pronam/pranam over the years, in Chapter 40 of the
Autobiography:
[pronam:] Literally, “holy name,” a word of greeting
among Hindus, accompanied by palm-folded hands
lifted from the heart to the forehead in salutation. A
pronam in India takes the place of the Western
greeting by handshaking (Yogananda, 1946).
More recently, however, the meaning of the (substituted)
word has shifted to something more indicative of the respect
due the ochre robe:
[pranam:] Lit., “complete salutation,” from Sanskrit
root nam, to salute or bow down; and the prefix pra,
completely. A pranam salutation is made chiefly before
monks and other respected persons (Yogananda,
1998)
• Further, the extent to which questioning is discouraged in
the ashrams is demonstrated by the following example:
Early in my own stay at Hidden Valley, our Thanksgiving
meal centered on a soy-based turkey substitute. Following
that feast, one resident pointed out in a written satsanga
question that that food was loaded with MSG, which many
people are allergic to, or develop headaches from. He also
informed us that non-MSG turkey substitutes are readily