By Ram Puniyani
Many a sex scandals related to Holy men have come to the surface during last few weeks (March 2010). Its not that these are the first ones to have been brought to social attention; such incidents have been coming to social notice time and over again. However, the present ones’ about Swami Nityanand and Ichhchadhari Baba (Bhimanand) have highlighted the same in a very intense fashion as these scandals are very blatant.
One recalls in recent history, many such cases have startled the media and society. The allegation of a foreign writer about Satya Sai Baba; then allegations against Gurmeet Ram Rahim, Santosh Madhavan, and happenings of the Kamkoti Peetham Shakarachrya are quite well known. From other religious traditions, one recalls the recent book by Sister Jesme (Story of a Nun) and the news that the Roman Catholic Church has sacked a priest accused of pedophilia as large number of complaints were coming forth in Germany from people who were abused as children. At another level the RSS pracharak (RSS pracharaks are to remain bachelors for political reasons) Sanjay Joshi had also to give up his political responsibility when a CD related to his sexual exploits came to surface.
In all these cases the underlying mechanisms are different. In the Catholic establishment, to remain unmarried is the norm and many cases have come to light, which have shamed the establishment. The Hindu God-men are all ‘stand alone’ systems, not an organized Church. While comparing these may not be easy, what is common in these is that within the organizations where members remain celibate to discharge their religiously or politically ordained duties, many of them do get tainted by the fall out of such acts.
What is different about the case of these God-men in particular is a deliberate misuse of their ‘spiritual attainments’ to indulge in carnal pleasures – under the guise of spirituality – to the extent of running sex rackets in association with those in power. Here is the case of gross abuse of faith to the extent of deliberately setting up a situation to exploit the women devotees. The methods used by the swamis are diverse. This should come under a serious crime, not only at legal but also at social level, to ensure that such gross abuse of faith is brought under serious scanner.
As such, the concept of celibacy in many a religious orders had a spiritual base in the noble idea of renunciations and transcending of the physical pleasures to attain the higher spiritual platform. The religious Gurus have been of different types as far as celibacy is concerned. In early India there were renouncers as well as those who led a family life. Patanjali stated “swa-ang jugupsa, parai asansargah’, meaning that with increasing spiritual insights, with mind achieving higher truth, apathy for physical body comes in. This is what is supposed to have made celibacy the path to sanyas. Celibacy, Brahmcharya, has been highly respectable in sections of society.
After the 8th century, celibacy was taken to exalted levels into Hindu tradition by Shankara while he was leading the battle of Hinduism against Buddhism. To attack Buddhism, he adopted various concepts from Buddhism itself, e.g. the concept of renunciation of material wants; celibacy included. Today the idea of celibacy is prevalent mainly in Buddhism, sects of Hinduism and amongst Catholic priests. These three have bases in religious traditions. For much different reasons, mainly political one’s, organization like RSS has also brought this in for its propagators.
Patanjali’s argument is repeated by modern God-man, Sri Sri Ravishaker. According to him, as you go to higher levels, the body becomes insignificant and interest in sex is reduced to nothing. There have been dissenting notes from within the stable of God-men itself. The major such voice was that of Osho, Bhagwan Rajneesh. He argued that sex could be transcended only through experience; this was what he preached and penned down in his book, Sambhog se Samadhi (From Sex to Superconciousness).
These semi philosophical outpourings apart, the biological compulsions have always accompanied the celibates and the scandals have kept popping out from such institutions and individuals, telling us that these sexual escapades are a rule rather than an exception. It may be in the form of child abuse, same sex relationships to downright cunning methods indulged by God-men to trap the women on the pretext of their ‘spiritual’ pursuits. Different philosophical sounding arguments are dished out to the unsuspecting laity.
During these last few decades, the incidents are coming more to the surface as the phenomenon of God-men has mushroomed all around. This phenomenon is an accompaniment of the existential anxieties of the globalized world, the razor edge competitive era, where cut throat competition at the work place, heightened consumerism and moving upward in the scale of financial earning is the only index of one’s success. The need for emotional succor is leading to the rise of the industry of God-men.
The God-men belong to many categories, each having his-her own entrepreneurial skills. God-men put out their brand of spirituality, which apparently gives solace to the aggrieved middle and lower middle classes in particular amongst others. God-men have set up institutions which cater to a vastly expanding market. Meera Nanda, in her book, the ‘God Market’ , argues that there is an increased religiosity, collusion with the corporate World and the state. In India in particular, a subtle Hindusization is going on as such and this has been aided by the private sector. There is an active promotion of religious tourism. Higher education has been handed over to the private sector, some of whom use religious trust for running these institutions to impart ‘value education’. The State has been generous in giving away land at highly subsidized rates to the Gurus and God-men.
One can also see the rise of the religious Right here and in different countries during this period. RSS is having a field day in culturally Hinduizing the social space, and God-men are the major players in the game. One can say that these swamis of the ilk of Nityanad and Ichchhadhari are just the visible part of a larger phenomenon. These two cases also show the range of activities, from the spiritual façade to downright sex racket.
The broader picture of the phenomenon is much more disturbing. Last three decades have been one of the most tragic periods of human history for different reasons. It is within this period that the global political and social phenomenon have adopted the language of the religion. This language has created multiple problems. On one hand, one major religious community has been demonized, and on the other there is a big set back to rational thinking and progressive values. When the language of religion is used with great aplomb, the reason is forced on the back-foot and the suppression of human rights takes the garb of religion. Since religion is accompanied by faith, which in turn can create hysteria, the latter ensures that blind religiosity and blind faith rule the roost. The beneficiaries of these arrangements are the entrenched social, economic powers.
Globally, the US took on Russian forces by promoting the conservative versions of Islam, used the religious language to train Al Qaeda, and laced its ambitions for oil in the language of religion. Here in India, those who were opposed to social transformation of caste and gender, used Ram Temple type issues, created mass hysteria around identity issues and have tried to push back the process of social transformation. The increased social presence of God-men is an accompaniment of this process. They have a duel function. On one hand, they aid in creating conservative values, refurbished caste and gender norms from Manusmiriti are propagated, and on the other; they exploit this situation for their material enhancement, sexual exploitation included. Interestingly, the God men who talk of renunciation and going to higher levels themselves are the biggest beneficiaries of material riches. Society has to learn the lessons from the sprawling wealth and sexual exploitation done by sections of God-men and to understand that what is really taking place in the garb of holy clothes is a mere misuse of faith for crass purposes. Nityanand and Icchadhari Baba is a sort of barometer of the phenomenon which has gripped our society.
L. A. Breaux
I will have to seek to find an English or French translated version of “Sambhog se Samadhi” as it sounds like it would be an interesting read. Celibacy has been for me an oddity; I tried it for five years and found that not having sex occupied the majority of my time pondering what I was missing. It led me to conclude that, for me, to exclude my sexuality and the physical manifestations/events of it denies me the oppotunity of spiritual ‘fullness’. I have since wondered why sex, more importantly, its denial, shows strength. A great article to read and mull over.
I think your article clearly illustrates that there is no specific religion that uses its organized power to corrupt and abuse; only very fallible humans who used the assumed flawlessness of God-men – as you so wonderfully put it – to satisfy their cravings.
Sexuality is as much a part of our internal drive as eating, drinking (water) and sleeping. Sexuality, however, is judged by a norm. It’s normal for young children to be curious about the sexuality of each other. It’s normal for teenagers and young adults to develop strong sexual attractions. It’s normal to become sexually attracted to those of the same or similar maturity level, regardless of the age difference involved, but it’s not normal for adults to be sexually attracted to children. Children fantasize, desire, crave and are easily impressed by many things before they become adults. You don’t turn a twelve year old into an alcoholic. You don’t exploit the sexual innocence of a nine-year-old. By giving them adult roles, they lose their childhood and consequently the freedom to make what should have been adult choices.
Celibacy is a noble aspiration. It involves placing your love of generalized social commitment above your sexual nature. It’s very difficult while you are young and your body drive demands relationships. Suppressing the sexual nature during that time period can easily lead to deviations in the mental attempt to express denial. I wouldn’t criticize the youth attempting to acquire godliness through sexual abstinence and fall off the wagon, i.e., through marriage or sexual activity with a like degree of maturity, but i would very openly criticize a diocese who has failed in his/her vows to celibacy by engaging in covert, abnormal sexual behavior; including child molestation, submission through guilt, sexual abuses and exploitation of vulnerable women.
Of all seats of organization, the religious structure should be the one haven a person can turn to for healing of body and soul. It should be the one place the poor, the addicted, the frightened, alone and abused can turn to for love and support. There is a world of treachery, corruption and vindication dogging their every step, and God knows, the worldly are aware of this. If they cannot receive succor or spiritual guidance from their religious foundation, they cannot receive it anywhere.
[quote=Karlsie]Celibacy is a noble aspiration. It involves placing your love of generalized social commitment above your sexual nature.[/quote]
I see nothing “noble” in such a thing – denying ones own desires in the name of some “greater good” does nothing but fuck with your mind (particularly common are guilt and depression for the desires themselves, not to mention the tendency to act them out in secret lest you be shamed for it…), especially once you realized just what a load of bullshit the “greater good” really is.
[quote=Karlsie]Of all seats of organization, the religious structure should be the one haven a person can turn to for healing of body and soul. It should be the one place the poor, the addicted, the frightened, alone and abused can turn to for love and support.[/quote]
Contrary to popular belief, organized religion has very little to do with any of those things mentioned above – it’s primarily about control of the individual, keeping him from asking too many questions or asserting his own will-to-power over his life. In short, it’s all about providing another pillar of support for the social establishment to rest on: one that causes the individual to accept its will without any doubt that it is the “right” thing to do.
While I don’t see celibacy as “noble” anymore than I see hanging laundry instead of using a dryer “noble”; I do see it as useful. The individual who chooses this path whether for a month, year or lifetime, has time to get to know themselves. What exactly is desire and what is need? While sexuality is a basic human drive, it is not a necessity. In addition there are more people than you may think who truly don’t need sex at all and fill the need for intimacy in other ways. My feeling is the judgement should only come into play when they seek to exhault their celibacy. This is a misuse of their own personal choice.
It is, of course no surprise that every religion and culture will have people who seek to use the sacred art of sexuality as a tool. These people if basically harmless should be ignored. If they are hurting others it is usually due to a problem within themselves and they should be treated accordingly.
grainnerhuad,
I see your point – there are some people out there who have little or no sexual drive and would probably end up living celibate lives no matter what else they do. I am not against this type of celibacy because it is based in one’s own needs and desires, but rather I’m against the institutionalized form of celibacy that demands refrain from sexual pleasure for the sake of the “greater good” (like the service of “god” or of some other social institution): this brand of celibacy is a ticking time bomb that will ensure that – sooner or later – it becomes a cover for dishonest activities and drives many of its adherents to madness.
[quote=Karlsie]Celibacy is a noble aspiration. It involves placing your love of generalized social commitment above your sexual nature.[/quote]
I see nothing “noble” in such a thing – denying ones own desires in the name of some “greater good” does nothing but fuck with your mind (particularly common are guilt and depression for the desires themselves, not to mention the tendency to act them out in secret lest you be shamed for it…), especially once you realized just what a load of bullshit the “greater good” really is.
[quote=Karlsie]Of all seats of organization, the religious structure should be the one haven a person can turn to for healing of body and soul. It should be the one place the poor, the addicted, the frightened, alone and abused can turn to for love and support.[/quote]
Contrary to popular belief, organized religion has very little to do with any of those things mentioned above – it’s primarily about control of the individual, keeping him from asking too many questions or asserting his own will-to-power over his life. In short, it’s all about providing another pillar of support for the social establishment to rest on: one that causes the individual to accept its will without any doubt that it is the “right” thing to do.
I would think that by now the entire idea of “renunciations and transcending of the physical pleasures” could almost just be dismissed as the BS it really is for most people. (Not all: my husband was celibate till we were agreed to marry, and I admire that very much.) For those who can do it, and choose to do it, hooray! But people who CANNOT do it should not get into roles where they are EXPECTED to do it. In the Catholic church, women are reviled as the original temptresses: everything evil comes from women. so? What’s a priest to do? Young boys aren’t evil, right??? It’s an entire corrupt way of thinking, backward and unnatural. We should be in more harmony with our own needs. And YES being in harmony with our own needs CAN include celibacy: think of how many impressionable people are talked into sex they do not desire!
grainnerhuad,
I see your point – there are some people out there who have little or no sexual drive and would probably end up living celibate lives no matter what else they do. I am not against this type of celibacy because it is based in one’s own needs and desires, but rather I’m against the institutionalized form of celibacy that demands refrain from sexual pleasure for the sake of the “greater good” (like the service of “god” or of some other social institution): this brand of celibacy is a ticking time bomb that will ensure that – sooner or later – it becomes a cover for dishonest activities and drives many of its adherents to madness.
@ Amy and Anthony,
Why are you guys copying and pasting my comments? If you do so in the future, please be sure to cite it as a quote – it would also be appreciated if you added some of your own material to the post as well…
All Babar’s are dhongi
All this and nothing on holy men and masturbation scandals? Well, this article is obviously lacking.