In the previous article, we discussed about the proliferation of Godmen in the country and why they are being worshipped by people. A Godman is no longer identified as a spiritual being attired in a loin cloth and meditating in the Himalayas.
Rather, they could be seen in silk clothing or designer-advised clothing costing thousands of rupees and floating Prabachans or talks with every such event costing lakhs. It’s the follower or the common man who pays for the events.
I call them events because they are better managed than commercial events with professionals guiding them all the way. Some have even entry tickets and the rates vary between how close you are located to the podium.
There are even variations like ten thousand to twenty thousand which one has to pay for touching the Godman’s feet or taking a snap with him. You will be amazed at the way the entire event is managed. I think a marketing professional could not have done better.
In the previous article, we discussed about the reasons why people still dote on Godmen and pointed out that counselling is one of the prime reasons. In this article, let’s look at the other causes why, in spite of knowing everything, people still depend on Godmen.
Confidentiality: Though the Godmen and their teachers meet many disciples who consult them for their personal problems, they are trained to maintain strict confidentiality in such matters. In our society till now, people do not feel that the regular counsellors will maintain such confidentiality and may leak it to the public for monetary gains.
In the case of celebrities, the price of information can be very high and may even damage their image. Marital discord is one of the most common problems for which couples approach counsellors or psychiatrists. I have come across a famous psychiatrist who issued false certificates against the female partner, saying that she was mentally unstable and not capable of family life.
He then sold such certificates for `3 lakh to `4 lakh to the other party and helped them get a divorce. Mental instability certified by a psychiatrist becomes a valid ground for divorce. This psychiatrist, though infamous, runs a very lucrative practice in this State.
After listening to such anecdotes, people prefer to donate money and keep their secret with their guru and the organisation. Since the couples respect the Godman, they would be malleable and amenable to his advice to try and give the relationship another chance.
It is amazing that the same couple who would not listen to their parents’ or in-laws’ advice, is found to be happily following the advice of the Godman or some representative of his ashram. Most people are found to have taken Diksha or initiation and feel privileged to get this input.
It is actually the affiliation or sense of ownership that makes them follow the advice. With the growth of nuclear families where most children leave the house by 16 years of age for pursuing professional courses, the allegiance to parents and relatives reduce over time. This is substituted by Godmen and other professional peer groups at a very early age.
Peer groups: Peer groups are identified as those of people having similar interests. Interests could be anything like music, sports, spirituality, etc. Around 40 years back, people had spiritual peer groups once they retired from service and entered the Vanaprastha stage, where they were free from worldly responsibilities.
Then, we could come across elderly people going for Prabachans or saying that they were affiliated to such and such guru or discussing about spiritual matters during a pause in morning walk, etc. Spirituality was a matter to be discussed by elders only.
It’s just the opposite now. Just as the stress and lifestyle diseases have attacked young people in their mid-thirties and early forties; so also has spirituality become a respite for them. This doesn’t mean that they have given up their materialistic world; rather they see spirituality as a medium to survive in the materialistic pursuits.
Thanks to the IT explosion and privatisation, young professionals are saddled with major responsibilities and treat the globe like one village. Moving from small towns to mini metros and metros, travelling across the globe where they don’t know the locals, they find oneness and acceptability everywhere by becoming members of spiritual organisations.
Quite a few proudly say that they are members of the ISKCON, Ramakrishna Mission, Isha Foundation, Patanjali Yoga, etc. They could be going to the local clubs and discos at the same time, but being a member of such a spiritual centre has become the ‘in-thing’ where they find solace and networking too.
A young professional who travels to Paris for the first time could contact the Ramakrishna Mission and find devotees who would be willing to help him out. There is a feeling of oneness among Guru Bhais, i.e, disciples of the same guru.
Maybe, they would not help monetarily, but a sense of belongingness as Guru Bhais helps them overcome loneliness in a foreign country. Thus, we have a new breed of yuppies who are highly health-conscious and may be found to be practising yoga in the morning, listening to discourses, visiting the local group or centre and, at the same time, relaxing at a pub or disco on the weekend.
Networking or identity in society: I have already mentioned the word Guru Bhai as devotees of the same guru who are threaded as one garland like the children of one mother. There is no difference between an auto driver, an engineer or a businessman attending the same Samiti or local group meeting.
When they have to practise Seva or selfless service, they are given similar tasks. All the devotees feel a strong sense of identity as belonging to the same organisation or guru. This brings in a healthy sense of participation, which people would have never got in their lifetimes in the usual materialistic way. As per the guru’s instructions, the devotees are supposed to treat each other as one family and help each other to the maximum extent. As there is anomaly in any system, some people misuse this ability for networking by just joining an organisation just to take advantage of the rich people.
There was a case where one such person, a Chief Minister, believed in a Godman, and within a short while many businessmen became members of the same group and got huge contract orders and all the credit went to the Godman or his ashram. This is just one case of perversion, but majority are pure in their intentions and help in creating a healthy society. let us, therefore, encourage others and try to be part of the changing era.
(sikta_pati@rediffmail.com)