Robert Priddy: Response 3

A response to Robert Priddy's Disempowerment In Worshipping Gurus: Article Three:

Referenced from: home.no.net/anir/Sai/enigma/dis3.htm

Part Three - Projecting one's inherent powers (onto the guru)

The first priority for almost any SSB follower in actual practice is to sit and wait almost endlessly, either in fact or figuratively and often through many years on end - for the Lord and Master. One visits the ashrams hoping for some form of personal attention, eye contact, some words and above all, a group interview and a private talk. One sees SSB enter for darshan after a long, long daily wait. The same experience is shared by all who visit him, excluding perhaps heads of state and royalty and the super rich and famous, who usually get a comparative red carpet treatment. It goes like this...

My Response: Most of SSB's devotees do not have the money, or time, to visit him in India. So that the "first priority for almost any SSB follower" to sit and wait for SSB's Darshan, is not accurate. Perhaps, that is what Robert Priddy did…sat and waited endlessly, hoping for some sort of personal attention.

He moves slowly, and if you are very 'fortunate' (??), looks at you (or perhaps just more or less or just in your general direction which you feel tempted to see as directed at yourself) and so a wave of happiness floods through you, tears may even come to your eyes. If he smiles at you or takes a letter from you, it seems you at last have evidence that you are acceptable to God himself.

My Response: This is amusing. This sounds like Robert Priddy is describing what he hoped and looked for when he was devoted to SSB. Although it is true that many attach great significance to receiving eye contact, a smile or SSB taking a letter from them, this is also true with Catholics and the Pope! Even in the worldly sphere, many attach great significance to eye contact, touch, smiles and personal interaction with "Stars" or famous people. Once again, this is not unique to SSB or his followers. And once again, many do not see SSB as God. People see SSB as a holy man, saint, guru, avatar, yogi, God-Man or God. We know that Robert Priddy accepted SSB as God, the Supreme Being and the Primal Source of Creation, and then rejected this Supreme Being and the Primal Source of Creation based on poorly researched facts and on the alleged words of V.K. Narasimhan, a staunch SSB devotee, whose words cannot be confirmed since he is now deceased (Robert Priddy waited until V.K.N. died before attributing his stories to him).

How does such a reaction occur in response to such a trivial bit of attention? All that SSB did was walk slowly and smile... But the key question is 'what did you do'? Well, you doubtless experienced the fulfillment of the longing you had built up over a long time, ever waiting, constantly longing for this to happen. His appearance was the culmination of months - even years - of long efforts by you to live according to his directions, do everything in his name. You sacrificed time and money, undertook long travels and put up with all manner of difficulties and disappointments on the way and your faith in him sustained you (probably not without many a difficulty). In short, you did it... but all he did was walk slowly by and glance at you. But by then you have already become highly open to suggestion (somewhat as are 'good hypnotic subjects'). Various persons have been surprised, as was I, upon first observing him give his 'holy darshan'... he seemed just too ordinary. But then, one already 'knows' that it could just not be true...

My Response: Poor Robert Priddy! He is giving us great insights into his former devotion to SSB and how he interpreted his experiences with SSB! Here, we have Robert Priddy talking about SSB's "ordinariness", but in other articles, to this day, Robert Priddy believes that SSB has "genuine and positive paranormal powers"! Since Robert Priddy believes this (as do many others), a glance, touch or taking a letter would have some sort of significance! At least to those who believe. In his book, Source Of The Dream, Robert Priddy also shares many "glance" experiences that he gave great importance. This must mean, of course, that Robert Priddy was one of these people who were "highly open to to suggestion" and was also a "good hypnotic subject"! In Source Of The Dream (page 210), Robert Priddy shares the following observations (although Priddy will never admit he could succumb to such shallow projections): "Baba does indeed give glances from the corner of his eye, sometimes so memorable and full of unspoken meaning that they keep coming to mind ever afterward. Hard though it is to understand, one look from the avatar can have a deeper and more lasting effect on one's life than can a whole two-hour interview. It all depends, of course, on the particular look! Others have agreed with this, but how it is possible no one can quite explain. This applies both to his 'corrective' looks - even more so - his exceedingly blissful and divine glance." This shows the deep contrast between Robert Priddy's genuine, first-hand testament when he was a SSB devotee and his current, negative observations and speculations.

When a person has longed to reach some spiritual climax for many years, even most one's whole lifetime, it is easy to see how little is needed to convert that person after the long period of preparation through books, videos, meeting many other persons with experiences seen through their own projections and so forth. One small paranormal event is sufficient in many cases to convince a person for life! This may take the form of statement like the following which was sent to me by a colleague at some stage as an illustration of how mental projection words in those who have invested much time and energy without noticeable attention from SSB:

"I vividly recall looking at his form with utter peace and no thoughts. He stopped and turned and gave me this amazing smile, piercing me with his eyes and I felt this incredible warmth enter me. 'What did he do that for,' I thought, on that day three years ago. Today, the penny dropped. Thought has to stop."

My Response: Far be it from Robert Priddy to interpret personal, spiritual experiences of others and its significance for that person. Is Robert Priddy saying that he was converted so easily, after succumbing to his "projections"? Once again, Robert Priddy does not want to be alone in his disillusionment and is making excuses for his poor decisions and actions by trying to criticize others for believing as he once did. Robert Priddy is much more negative, mean and cold since he left SSB. Who else, do you know, who has complete and utter disregard for mothers and fathers by showcasing pictures (in true tabloid style) of their sons murdered bodies, shot in the face, hands and torso, laying in pools of blood, for the world to see? Especially when Robert Priddy cannot provide any proof that SSB was associated with it in any way?

Robert Priddy also shared his own "projection" experience in his book, Source Of The Dream (page 154), in which he said, "One morning at Prashanti Nilayam, Baba was passing the chair where I sat, Suddenly he turned his head and gave me a brilliant shifting smile that warmed my heart, as if by direct energy, and also made feel very familiar. As he went on by, I treasured it and only after some moments realized what the familiarity was. It had been the personalities of my departed mother and father, first the (visually-perceived) characteristic loving smile of the one and then of the other. It was a 'two-phase' smile, which convinced me that each of them was somehow there 'in' him. Yet the smile was also his, as 'Sai Baba'. It was a delightful gratuitous experience of great benevolence, in which I could simply bask with peace of mind and confidence in all things. It was also deeply mysterious, and wonderfully so." Now, comparing Robert Priddy's projection with that of his colleague clearly shows that Robert Priddy's projection was far more severe and drastic than that of his colleague. Despite this obvious fact, Robert Priddy has the audacity to point fingers and cast blame on his colleague's shallow "projections". This once again points to Robert Priddy's "holier-than-thou" attitude and how everyone else is primitive and easily brainwashed, but he is somehow different, special and unaffected.

And, we have some reason to presume, that the dropping penny - after first awakening new thoughts - then caused thought to slow down and the mind to drift more thoughtlessly and uncritically than ever. Especially in the case of an impressionable mind that has already been actively brain-washing itself for a long time .

Among the tens of thousands who visit him each year, I have met and talked to hundreds who worship him as the One and Only God (he claims to be "all Gods rolled into one") and have bound themselves emotionally, mentally and socially deeply to him and his movement... and to the otherworldly and unrealistic ashram mental environment where all one's wildest hopes may (but most likely will not) come true.

My Response: It is important to point out that Robert Priddy was one of these "hundreds" of people who worshipped SSB as the "One and Only God"! Not only that, Robert Priddy wrote a book preaching the same! However, as if this is not embarrassing enough, Robert Priddy turns right around and admits to lying about SSB, when he said that he gave "exaggerated, positive accounts" about SSB! If Robert Priddy lied then, what is preventing him from doing the same now? In his book, Source Of The Dream (page 201, Prema Is Supreme), Robert Priddy says of SSB, "Our awkward position of trying to explain this inexplicable divine incarnation and the convoluted and incredible proofs of it that he (SSB) often provides us with, is itself a divine comedy, a joke both at our expense and yet to our advantage. But I am genuinely sorry for those who cannot yet taste the honey of truly seeing, believing, and knowing!" This was the profound depth of Robert Priddy's mental state, at that time!

Powerful projection reinforcements: You projected all kinds of desires and your best imaginings onto him, so was it any wonder that you felt as you did at this moment? The repetition of such experiences only prolong the same relationship, where you produce all the results yourself. These circumstances are conducive to sudden healing and many other extra-normal effects. They are not limited to SSB, of course, they can occur with Billy Graham, at Lourdes or with literally thousands of other figures and at countless places. The intensity, the belief and all else one puts into this 'projection' is what causes the outcome... all one needs is a catalyst, an idol, an object to project onto.

My Response: Why doesn't Robert Priddy give us a demonstration of the power of "projection". Robert Priddy suffered (suffers) from back problems (which put him on disability). Why doesn't he use his power of projection to cure himself? Robert Priddy also wears glasses. Why doesn't he "project" a healing for his eyes while he is at it? Anyone can explain anything away, as they so choose. However, giving a demonstration of such explanations are very rare. Also, Robert Priddy gives a fantastic account in his book, Source Of The Dream (Chapter 5: Sai Answers A Call), in which Robert Priddy talks about a miraculous cure that his mother had, that he attributed to SSB. Robert Priddy's mother was suffering from a progressive loss of memory (to the point that she even forgot who Robert Priddy was) and who fell down a flight of stairs and crushed a vertebra. She suffered from pain for 6 years when almost overnight, she no longer suffered from any pain! Robert Priddy describes how his mother asked him who was the "nice man" who visited her, who had an afro, was short, wore white and who said, "You will have no more pain". Robert Priddy attributes this miracle to SSB, whose description fits that of SSB. Robert Priddy fails to tell us how his mother could "project" her own healing onto SSB when she was not mentally capable of doing so, nor was she religious.

Remarkably enough, too, SSB has himself occasionally said that everyone projects their own qualities onto things of the world and others and are deluded that these qualities come from outside themselves! It is as though he is mocking his followers for their naivety in worshipping him. The quality of love for another person or things is one example he gives of this projection. He also often insists on the Vedantic proposition, "You are the Atma (Spirit)" and says "You ARE God!", which clearly implies that there is no need whatever to project 'divine qualities' onto SSB either! He once even told an interview group friend of Americans in 1976 (where a good friend of ours, Mark Roche, was present) that they were thinking that people back in America are living in an illusion while they thought themselves to be at the feet of the Lord. But that this was an illusion too! Why then does he set himself up as the omniscient, all-powerful God the Father and invite (and accept most willingly) constant adulation of himself through all forms of worship, kissing of his feet and so on?

My Response: If Robert Priddy was aware of this teaching, by SSB, that everyone projects their own qualities and feeling onto SSB, why did Robert Priddy worship SSB and see SSB as the "Omniscient, all-powerful God the Father"? He even wrote a book on it!

One example of how SSB plays on this human faculty of projection: He told Hislop: "You have got love for the tape recorder.... When the tape recorder was in the shop, did you love it? ... you love it now because you feel it is 'mine'. So, when you think God is 'mine', you love Him." The underlying assumption, accepted fully by Hislop and a million followers or more, is that God is none other than SSB. Among all SSB devotees, this is the single keystone belief which, once adopted, leads to ever greater self-minimalisation through increasing projection onto SSB. The expressed aim is to make it grow until there is nothing else by SSB everywhere in everything, until you are one with him. If or when one discovers after many years - despite everything - that SSB is definitely not at all what he claims to be, the crisis that ensues can only be imagined by those who have not experienced it.

My Response: There are very few people who believe that SSB is God. SSB does have millions of followers, but comparatively few believe he is God. Robert Priddy is making a strong case for what he terms "projection". Basically saying that whatever Divinity we see in SSB, is the result of our "projection". However, using this same vein of logic, one can also say that whatever Lack of Divinity we see in SSB, is the result of our "projection" as well! Either way, Robert Priddy is entrapping himself in his projections. Robert Priddy liberated himself from one projection and has now entrapped himself in another projection! It can also be said that one can "project" qualities, powers and characteristics to oneself, that one does not have!

What is usually meant by 'projection' in psychology is more specific. It is a deep-rooted emotional disturbance in a person's psyche ('defense mechanism'), whereby guilt is suppressed by shifting responsibility or blame onto others away from oneself. It can assume pathological proportions in disturbed persons. This can be thought of as 'projecting the negative'. The subtle and intensive doctrinal self-brainwashing achieved by Sai and his teaching works through his devotees 'projecting the positive', above all onto him. This alienates the person from (his or her own) reality, and easily becomes the pathology known commonly to the world as 'cult brainwashing'.

My Response: This is a very amusing comment, from Robert Priddy. Robert Priddy's writing are evidently "defensive" and continually "shifting responsibility or blame" from himself, and his past choices, to SSB. Robert Priddy is continually trying to "project the negative" about SSB. So Robert Priddy is basically defining his own "deep-rooted emotional disturbance" by accusing others of what he, himself, has! A classic example of projection! If it is true that "projecting the positive alienates the person from reality", then it can also be said that a person who "projects" the negative, similarly alienates him/her self from reality as well! Consequently, this is a no win situation. If you strive to view (project) the world (or SSB) through positive eyes, you are brainwashed and if you view (project) the world (or SSB) through negative eyes, you are similarly brainwashed!

The limits of sanity: How is it that devotees become psychologically incapable even of really considering that they are 'projecting' the inherent powers of their spirits onto an external form, which derives most of its experienced attraction precisely from this projection? The chief answer is that SSB - parading as "God Almighty" - constantly insists most strongly that his devotees must constantly worship his name, form and person as the fastest and safest way to salvation and liberation from the pain and suffering of life now and in the hereafter. Consequently, most devotees do not - cannot - find or recognize any 'God within' (which is a subtle rider in Sai's hold-all teaching which effectively hooks spiritual seekers). But when they can only project divinity onto him, how can they at all retain or discover their own worth, whether profane or sacred?

My Response: How is it that Anti-SSB Activists become psychologically incapable even of really considering that they are "projecting" the negativity of their own minds onto an external form, which derives most of it's experienced negativity precisely from this projection?

Funny how most of Robert Priddy's rebuttals are never discussed two-ways. Only one-way, Robert Priddy's way!

There is always a choice, when it comes to accepting SSB's teaching and purported divinity. Far be it from anyone to say that one is not allowed to make these choices. Just as one can accept the divinity of Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed, Mahavir, Zarathushtra, Krsna, Shiva, Devi, etc., one is similarly free to accept the divinity of SSB. Whether they are truly divine or not, is not the point. The point is that others are responsible for their own choices and spiritual path. There are many people who have become disenfranchised with Christianity for reasons they feel are valid. However, this disenfranchisement does not refute or invalidate the experiences and beliefs of those who still maintain their devotion to Chistianity. The same applies to SSB, other religions and other spiritual paths. Robert Priddy "projections" prevent him from seeing this.

If one projects positive qualites outwards, the corollary is that one 'internalises' negative qualities to one's own self-image. It can hardly be pointed out enough that a large part of the SSB teaching is very self-negating in that all that we consider bad (and/or what SSB declares is bad, sinful, evil) is solely due to our own thoughts, words and deeds, according to him. In his discourses he is ever pouring out masses of blame and accusations of impurities and sins against everyone, including his devotees. All that is good comes from him, he says, while all suffering, all evil acts, and all problems one experiences are due entirely to one's own actions (now or previously)! This very strong generator of guilt feelings in devotees works further to reinforce the outward 'positive projection' syndrome. It is classical religious fundamentalism - we are born sinners and cannot save ourselves. ('Accumulated bad karma' in Hindu religions and 'original sin' in Judaeo-Christian religions amount to much the same in practice). The condemnatory parts of SSB's doctrine tends to drain self confidence and gradually to fill replace it with negative self images and depressive tendencies... unless, of course, one is a perfect as a saint (or believes oneself to be so).

My Response: This is just sheer non-sense. Robert Priddy is basically saying that if one "projects" negative qualities outwards, one is internalising positive qualities! I'm sorry, but one who "projects" positive qualities, does so because they are positive. One who "projects" negative qualities, does so because they are negative. This sounds like Robert Priddy is trying to validate and make excuses for his negativity!

Although there are a few similarities between SSB teachings, in relation to "bad and evil", and Judeo-Christianity, SSB differs (considerably) when it comes to "sin". One of the basic tenets to the Judeo-Christian faith, is the self-condemnation of being a "sinner". SSB has often said, "Do not condemn yourselves as sinners; sin is a misnomer for what are really errors, provided you repent sincerely and resolve not to follow Evil again." However, all religions talk about "bad and evil". Consequently, this brings me back, once again, to the point that Robert Priddy is not only criticizing SSB, but is also criticizing all religions. If only Robert Priddy was more open and fair in his criticisms, I would not need to be commenting on his highly selective, one-sided and misleading observations.

The nature of projection is not at all simple. It is also a deep philosophical enigma. The mind is not merely a passive receptor, because it forms and 'colours' its perceptions and other inputs. It 'projects' far more onto 'the world' than we realise, not only our mental and emotional states, but even largely determines what we hear or see (or what we do not select to perceive), and how we understand it. A classic poser in the psychology of perception is where one may draw the line between subjective imagining and objective reality, or between what the mind 'receives' and what it 'projects'.

My Response: Here, Robert Priddy admits that "projection" is not so easily understood after all! Since there are numerous internal, emotional, mental and environmental influences that shade and color our view of others and the world (including Robert Priddy's world), far be it from Robert Priddy to "draw the line" for others, and say that they are simply mindless, brainwashed "projectors"! Unless of course, Robert Priddy wants others to draw the line for him, and say he is a mindless and brainwashed "projector" as well? Of course, that would be "projection"? Right? Exactly! And that is exactly what Robert Priddy is doing; projecting his views, and criticizing others for doing the same!

That the human mind cannot fathom the ultimate nature of reality is the impetus for all mystical theories or 'teachings'. We are vulnerable to ideas that we cannot prove or disprove. Sathya Sai takes full advantage of this, citing the one scripture after the other in a confusing mêlée of ideas which - like most such speculative groping - are inconsistent and vague. He pushes the theory that the mind creates reality by projecting its perceptions and ideas outwards to the extreme, as follows...

"Whatever is not in man cannot be anywhere outside him. Whatever is visible outside him is but a rough reflection of what really is in him." (Sathya Sai Vahini, p. 164)

"The whole cosmos is made up of thought waves; hence, the scripture declares: The mind is at the root of the cosmos. There is no place, or form or action wherein the mind is absent." (Sathya Sai Speaks Vol. 26, p. 203)

My Response: Once again, this type of teaching is not limited to SSB. All world religions preach the same thing and take full advantage of the unknowable nature of the "ultimate reality".

I agree that segments of SSB's teaching are very difficult to understand and comprehend. However, SSB's teaching of a "thought wave" and unified cosmos, has scientific support in Thought-Wave Theories, Quantum Wave Theories, Unified Theory, String Theory, M Theory Duality and Supersymmetry theories.

It is very difficult to explain the Universe in strict scientific jargon. Most scientists explain the universe in philosophical terms. Quantum Theory suggests that everything is an inseparable whole and what is perceived, is not what is real, because there are forces and cosmic influences that are superluminal (or, beyond what we perceive). The light spectrum is infinite, and the band of light that we are able to perceive is a sliver in that infinite spectrum. Unified Theories (everything is one, in an inseparable whole) are sounding more and more like Eastern Philosophy and SSB's teachings.

However, the Sai dogma neglects (and avoids) the equally cogent hypothesis that 'What is within is also without'. This world around us, an apparently interminable universe, registers itself in our awareness as inconceivably intricate, eventful and vast beyond normal conception. It appears as massively 'material', as not at all mental... nor as being mind-dependent and as largely inert, objective existence over which consciousness has no physical control. Because it is 'absent' for the mind which does not cognise it, one cannot conclude that the universe does not really exist or is essentially' unreal', as SSB often says it is. To see absolutely everything as a projection of one's mind leads to logical absurdities and is known in philosophy as 'solipsism' (i.e.solus ipse = 'Only I exist' ). This theory breaks down in confrontation with reality, for no one can live and survive as if they were 'the only person in the world.' This is the ultimate narcissism, and to imagine one is an almighty creator God must be the ultimate delusion of grandeur.

My Response: Robert Priddy begins by making a very valid point. However, Robert Priddy quickly breaks down when it comes to mental projections (again). First of all, this entire article is about how devotees "project" their qualities onto SSB and even project physical healing (positive things) upon themselves. Then this article goes into how projection, in psychology, "is a deep-rooted emotional disturbance in a person's psyche ('defense mechanism'), whereby guilt is suppressed by shifting responsibility or blame onto others away from oneself". Then, Robert Priddy says, "The nature of projection is not at all simple. It is also a deep philosophical enigma. The mind is not merely a passive receptor, because it forms and 'colours' its perceptions and other inputs. It 'projects' far more onto 'the world' than we realise, not only our mental and emotional states, but even largely determines what we hear or see (or what we do not select to perceive), and how we understand it." Despite all of these conflicting views on "projection", Robert Priddy says that, "To see absolutely everything as a projection of one's mind leads to logical absurdities". As one can see, Robert Priddy asserts that "projection" is a large determinant on the mind that colors it's perceptions and inputs. Then Robert Priddy says that seeing everything as "projections" leads to logical absurdities! What is Robert Priddy talking about? Which things are not "projected", and which things are? How does he know? How can Robert Priddy say which things are not projected, yet explain how his observations are not "projections" themselves? Honestly, this is just a bunch of jibberish.

SSB tries to get around this difficulty in most of his proclamations to be God the Creator by claiming that everyone is God, and God is one. In his doctrine, God is not only omnipresent consciousness but also has to be the 'mind' that creates the cosmos. For he repeatedly says 'the mind creates the cosmos'. What such extremely vague generalisations may actually mean is anyone's guess... and there are plenty of devotees who make plenty of wild guesses. What it may be taken to mean in terms of practical everyday living and spirituality is what concerns us here. .. and from observing hundreds of devotees through two decades I can say that it leads to many strange mental, emotional and behavioural aberrations. The main point here, however, is to show how such a doctrine is used to bemuse, then offer a panacea to the confused which also means accepting full subservience to the person of SSB... a promised total self-realisation or liberation of the soul and 'unity with God' if only one does what one is told by the 'sadguru'. Believe it those who wish to risk it, but there is an ultimate price.

My Response: Although it is very difficult to understand how our mind creates the cosmos, this type of idea is similarly contemplated in the example of Schrodingers Cat. The cosmos is partially perceived (from Earth) but is not completely perceived. What we perceive, we know as real, but what we do not perceive can be either real or unreal (as we have not seen it). Consequently, the cosmos is known only through our perception of it. Without perception, it ceases to exist…for us. For us, our perception is the cause of its existence, as the issue of existence of the universe is unknown until we experience it. Some say that the cosmos exists independent of our awareness of it. However, that can never be validated unless there is one who "observes" it to begin with. This is also discussed in Bell's Theorem in which it states that the observer creates the observed. There is also Bohm's Theory which explains the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox on non-locality. Bell's theorem also provided a mathematical proof for non-locality (a unified cosmos). So herein lies the enigmatic concept of a unified cosmos and the observer creating the observed. In other words, everything is one and our mind creates the separate universe we perceive. This sounds like what SSB's is saying, and what Robert Priddy is taking issue with.

RELATED BLOG LINKS: » » Robert Priddy: Response 1 » » Robert Priddy: Response 2 » » Robert Priddy: Response 3 (you are here) » » Robert Priddy: Response 4 » » Robert Priddy: Response 5 » » Robert Priddy: Response 6