Different personality at Sanatan Ashram Ponda

The reassignment of work at Sanatan Ashram Ponda is a blessing in disguise. I and Sanatan Sanstha discover a different and hidden aspect of my personality; I can handle stress; enormous amount of stress without losing my cool. I handle some very tricky situations at the swagat kaksh of Sanatan Ashram Ramnathi and in the process, earn some long-needed goodwill of high ranking sadhaks. These sadhaks are quite influential though they do not have any pompous sounding designations. Their words carry a lot of weight in Sanatan Sanstha and they are keeping a close watch on me. I thank Dr Jayant Athavale for all his blessings, only his blessings have made this possible otherwise I was down in the dumps.

A different persona Sanatan Sanstha

The different me is really a different persona at Sanatan Sanstha. I have handled two critical incidents at Sanatan Ashram Ponda and handled them in such a manner that there was a lot of goodwill generated for me and the sanstha. Both relate to some queries raised by the police department. In one situation, they are on the point of conducting a raid. I play them around till some significant persons disappear from the premises of Sanatan Ashram Ramnathi. I will not share the complete details; who knows the police or even Sanatan will try to silence me. Silence me in the same way they have silenced some troublesome sadhaks. Sanatan Sanstha does not trust anybody and if a person is privy to confidential knowledge or information, they take special care of them. Not my words but those uttered by a senior sadhak to my rakshak after I escaped from their clutches and ran away from Sanatan Ashram Ponda.

The other incident is not open to public consumption but relates to a police spy. The police had planted a spy in our midst but I could identify him very easily. He escaped with his life, I regretted it at that time. Dr Jayant Athavale had control over my mind and I could only think about him and his safety.

Another dimension of my personality

This different dimension of my personality opens a host of opportunities to the sadhaks of Sanatan Sanstha and to me as well. I can now be assigned to perform several high-level sevas. I am about to join a close-knit group within Sanatan Ashram Ponda; a group so well knit that hardly anybody is aware of it.

This development does not go down well with my rakshak. I am surprised as I felt that she would be very happy for me. I think it is envy. Though she has spent several years at Sanatan Ashram Ramnathi, she has never reached my level. She has a serious issue of personality defect; envy and that interferes with her spiritual progress. I have a serious talk with her one day but she does not reply to my accusations; in fact, she is silent throughout. She only looks at me with her soul-searching eyes.

I realize later on that I was entering a deep quagmire; one which would make it impossible to escape. But, I didn’t want to escape.  I wanted to be enveloped by the Chaitanya of Dr Jayant Athavale and his Sanatan Sanstha.

Reassignment at Sanatan Ashram Ponda

Sanatan Sanstha punishes me for a minor slip of the tongue at one satsang at Sanatan Ashram Ponda. I get very emotional about this but do not let it affect my resolve. I am firm that I will serve my Guru Dr Jayant Athavale and seek spiritual growth under his guidance. I am ready to enlist my daughter into the fold of Sanatan and also reach out to my husband. In short, I am ready to do anything. Anything except see the writing on the wall. The writing clearly says that Sanatan Sanstha practices mind control techniques; it lures women and men alike and controls their minds; makes them do what the sanstha wants.

 Swagat kaksh at Sanatan Ashram Ponda

I think my resolve wins in the end and I am reassigned to be part of the Swagat Kaksh at Sanatan Ashram Ponda. Every day I report to the main reception area. My job is to handle the telephone console and pass on important messages to the concerned sadhaks. I should be aware of the various activities of the ashram as well as arrival and departure of many important sadhaks. I am also responsible for informing them about any raids by police or any other government agencies. The responsibility is enormous as Sanatan Sanstha has been raided several times in the past. However, in most cases, they were unable to find what they were after. It is the responsibility of the Swagat Kaksh at Sanatan Ashram Ponda to give information as fast as possible so that necessary arrangements can be made.

I take this as a challenging job and handle all the calls.

Frantic relatives and a stone wall

I also serve as a stone wall between frantic relatives and runaway sadhaks. I must have encountered about a dozen such cases. When a runaway sadhak reaches Sanatan Ashram Ramnathi, we generally put a safety net over her. She is handled very carefully. The relatives may lure her away from Sanatan Sanstha else they may create a ruckus at the ashram premises. We actually like it if they create a scene and pick up a fight. Our media arm has good connections with sympathetic media organizations. These media persons can reach the ashram within minutes and cover the whole episode very well. They also give a sympathetic angle so that Sanatan comes out like a good organization being harassed by evil doers.

This has a ripple effect and our sadhaks who wish to fly away to the ashram are motivated to do so. We also attract several other seekers. The concerned sadhak also loses faith in her family and starts trusting Sanatan Sanstha completely. She becomes a permanent feature at Sanatan Ashram Ponda. She hands over control of mind to Dr Jayant Athavale.

Apart from this seva, I have to offer seva in the kitchen. Now, I get sufficient time to attend all satsangs and also participate in many activities. I get my food on time. I think that I am redeemed finally and Sanatan Sanstha has finally and totally accepted me.

I belong to Dr Jayant Athavale and Sanatan Sanstha.

Building trust at Sanatan Ashram Ramnathi

Though I felt betrayed when the Swagat Kaksh at Sanatan Ashram Ramnathi did not pass information about my father’s illness, I did not assume the worst. I rationalised that they may have forgotten. Initially, I had doubted them but one sadhak approached me a couple of days afterwards and apologised for not passing the information.

Sanatan Sanstha rebuilds trust

She said that she had forgotten to do so and this was her personality defect. It had to be removed. She also mentioned this during the personality defect removal session in my presence. The other sadhaks took her for task and told her the seriousness. Because of her, I had been hurt, I had started doubting the sanstha. She was asked to do penance. I was also asked about my father’s health and told that Sanatan could provide good medical care at Sanatan Ashram Ramnathi. It would combine spiritual treatment as well and hence recovery would be fast. I should call up my parents immediately. I could not go personally as my education was in a critical phase and such disturbances would affect it. They had also information that my father was recovering and the critical phase had passed thanks to my devotion to the Guru; Dr Jayant Athavale.

Such good thoughts; such affection. Sanatan Sanstha was really full of people giving selfless service. Look at the strength of spiritual practise, my father was responding to the positive vibes generated by my devotion to spirituality. I was now fully convinced that I was on the right path.

I phoned up my parents immediately and after apologising, asked them to bring father to Sanatan Ashram Ponda for treatment. My mother said that he was not able to travel and I should visit him. I obviously could not do so and could not understand their insistence. Sanatan Sanstha was going to such trouble and they were not cooperating? I was sure that this was the effect of evil spirits.

Reflections

I recall the whole incident very clearly. I remember meeting the friend, the news about my father’s illness, my self-doubts and Sanatan’s generous offer. I realised the inconsistencies very late. The story built up by the sanstha had several glaring inconsistencies. I should have realised them sooner, but my mind was under their control. The major inconsistency was; how did they come to know that I was aware of my father’s illness? I had only told my rakshak and as subsequent incidents proved, she never shared such personal confidences with Sanatan Sanstha. Why did the sadhak apologise after several days. My father had suffered from stroke two months before I knew, so my brother had visited about two months back. Why was this brought up after such a time difference?

My parents had stopped communicating after this incident and my offer for treatment at Sanatan Ashram Ramnathi acted like salt on a wound. I thought it was a generous offer but they took it in a totally different angle.

I was beyond any rational reasoning. Sanatan meant such a lot to me, my Guru; Dr Jayant Athavale, meant a lot to me. Anything else was irrelevant.

Sanatan Sanstha controls my life

Sanatan Sanstha 24X7

I am no longer in control of my life as Sanatan Sanstha has total control over it. The sanstha has started dictating each minute of my day and night, I wake up when I am told to do so; I eat as per Sanatan’s wishes, I even alter my relationships as per their wishes. The website; www.sanatan.org contains instructions on each and every aspect of life and they say that these are as per our purans and holy books. They have done a lot of research on these subjects. They have instructions on how to bathe, how to comb hair and even on how to urinate. These are taught to us during the daily satsangs. My mind accepts them as if these are the words of God, no questions asked.

Time is of the essence now; the twenty-four hours of a day are insufficient for me. This has been drummed into my mind and it has found easy acceptance. A “saint” spent many hours with us explaining the importance of time. He said that if we are doing sadhana for 2 hours, we should do for 4 hours, if we do for 4 hours daily, we should increase it to 8 hours and if we do for 12 hours, we should spend the entire day in doing sadhana. This is possible only at the Sanatan Sanstha ashram.

I used to do sadhana for 16 hours; practically I spent all my waking hours with Sanatan Sanstha. The saint just smiled and replied that I should do more. All the sadhaks agreed with him, I also promised that I would do so.

Personality defect removal

The sanstha also taught me the use of auto-suggestion as a means of removing personality defects. I was overawed by the feeling of spirituality flowing over me. I felt Chaitanya. The sanstha was taking me on a higher plane of sub-consciousness. I do not realize that the use of suggestions is a very old trick of hypnotists like Dr Jayant Athavale. I now know that once you start accepting suggestions from a person or a group of persons, they can use it to change your behaviour, change your opinions and beliefs and ultimately control your body and soul. I have sold my soul to Sanatan Sanstha.

An educated sane woman with a very loving family and stable background has become a walking zombie.

Broken dreams and broken relationships.

The personality removal process is a very elaborate one and central to the sanstha’s activities. I learn about its importance during my stay at the ashram and also understand the devious means the sanstha uses it. But, for now, I am sold on the sanstha.

I use the techniques taught during personality defect removal process on my family. But, I am a novice. Now I understand that only “saints” of Sanatan Sanstha are trained in this key psychological process. This must be handled carefully otherwise results are disappointing. I know because I was taught this at the ashram, I was an expert in the process.

The psychological methods and techniques are generally used for the benefit of mankind. In the hands of a skilled hypnotherapist like Dr Jayant Athavale, they take on a sinister form. Nothing good can ever come out of it.

Why Does Sanatan Sanstha Say Guru is Everything

Sanatan Sanstha starts differentiating

I am now totally enamoured by Sanatan Sanstha. I am a changed person. My beliefs have undergone a drastic change. I am unlearning the past experiences and learning new things; absorbing new ideas and beliefs. My opinions are changing; my behaviour is changing. Sanatan has worked its magic band on me and has created a different persona through psychological methods. Dr Jayant Athavale has used his experience and education to brainwash me without any outward hypnotic methods. I am mesmerised by the sanstha.

The focus is now on differentiating the sanstha from others. The changes are subtle and far-reaching.

Guru is everything says Sanatan Sanstha

They have been stressing the importance of the Guru in spiritual pursuits. Our Vedas and Puranas and other holy scriptures say that the Guru is a guiding star; his role is to take us on the correct path; to show us the correct path.Sanatan Sanstha quotes extensively from such holy books.

Sanatan starts off by teaching me these from the scriptures. Guru and Gurukrupayoga are stressed in all satsangs. They start with a prayer to a God and then a prayer to the Guru seeking his blessings. Slowly the tempo is built up. I think of my guru; Dr Jayant Balaji Athavale, as the only true person in this world. I think that only his preaching is correct. Sanatan Dharma is Sanatan Sanstha and Jayant Athavale is everything. I see the sadaks everywhere; I feel the presence of Sanatan everywhere – in all my actions, all my behaviour and all my thoughts. I am because of the sanstha.

Chaitanya at Sanatan Sanstha

My thoughts are filled with feelings of Chaitanya because of Sanatan Sanstha. I feel Chaitanya everywhere. I am so full of it that I forget everything else. I go through the daily chores as if I am in a trance. I cook because of the need for cooking, I eat because my physical body needs food – not to satisfy my family’s needs. I forget many household chores; I do not do them on time. My daughter falls behind in her studies, I think it is because of her prarabdha, the karmas of past lives. We have to experience them; we have to live through them and do good karma. Then only we can nullify them. I do not share my daughter’s prarabdha, hence I am free of it. I have no part in it.

My Guru is protecting me. My Sanatan Sanstha is protecting me.

I have an easy solution to my daughter’s problems; she should join whole-heartedly with me. The Chaitanya and Guru’s blessings will get rid of her bad karma. That is the only solution. My husband wants me to concentrate on her; wants me to devote time. But, where do I have the time? I ask him to do so. Another fight, another smart bomb.

My Guru is everything, My Sanatan Sanstha is everything. I don’t need anything else in life. I want Mooksha and only Dr Jayant Athavale can give it to me. Nobody else can and nobody else will. My soul is crying for freedom from the physical body.

Broken Dreams and Broken Relationships.

Sanatan Sanstha – Propagating Myths

Mythological Santan Sanstha

Sanatan Sanstha has propagated several myths, all aimed at creating a distinct image about it. They use all resources at their hand. They produce newsletters – Sanatan Prabhat, Weeklies, fortnightlies, and monthlies. These are available in different languages – Marathi is the main language, but these are available in Hindi, Gujarati as well as Kannada. They conduct satsangs at all their kendras and upkendras. These are spread across mainly Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Gujarat. Satsangs are a good medium to propagate myths, Santan Sanstha has a docile and captive audience. They also conduct sabhas, dharmavargs and balsanskar vargs. They have a good presence across social media, they are on FaceBook, they are on Twitter and other social platforms. Their sadhaks – followers, write several blogs, they use their own Facebook and Twitter accounts to promote the sanstha.

Why are myths important to Sanatan Sanstha?

Sanatan Sanstha projects a bigger image than the reality through myths. It has created an Aura around itself; a sort of a halo under which many non-religious activities can flourish. A sanstha can operate only if it gets financial support. Dr. Jayant Athavale knows this, his spiritual aim is to create a name for himself. He wants his name to be written in history books, possible only through financial backing. Possible only if he can build an army of followers.

The second myth is about spirituality. The sanstha wants to show that it is providing spiritual education. It has been established to show the path for spiritual upliftment. Such lofty ideals, such lofty objectives. Their activities; their website, the satsangs, the dharmavargs and the periodicals propagate this myth. This provides them with a steady flow of manpower – in terms of followers, financial backing – donations, advertisements, government aid.

The third myth and equally important is that they are the underdogs. We, Hindus, get united when we see Hindu institutions being attacked. We rally ourselves behind such an organization; that time we do not look at the faces behind the veil. This is important to bind the sadhaks to a common cause and equally important to bind in such a manner that they stick together. Sanatan Sanstha uses the tag of attacks to rally their forces behind them. Do they lead from the front? No, not at all, the guru; Dr. Jayant Athavale remains behind the veil, behind the protective cover. The sadhaks are in the forefront. They carry the baton; the guru wants only the fruits.

The fourth myth is about invincibility. They cannot be touched by anybody. To the followers – sadhaks; they say that the guru is protecting them (Should it not be GOD? For the sanstha, the guru is everything). Any small incident is blown out of proportion. They hold demonstrations in front of police stations and hold dharnas. They give memorandum to the police, the collector and any other politician and publish the photos and articles in media as well as their website.

Sanatan Sanstha creates an impact:

There are several such myths. I have taken only those that were used to influence me and to convince me that Sanatan Sanstha is under attack. Yes, you are right. The focus has now shifted from attacks on Hindu Dharma to attacks on Sanatan Sanstha. This is drilled into my mind, the sanstha is under attack.

Do something to save it. You can do something to save it. You can save Sanatan Sanstha.

Why does Sanatan Sanstha follow you?

Sanatan Sanstha enters your mind

The slow burning candle technique uses another strategy, one perfected by Sanatan Sanstha. They need to control your mind as well as your body. I am attracted by the sanstha and its preaching, I feel attracted and attached to them. The next step by Dr. Jayant Athavale is to reinforce these feelings and imprint them strongly in my mind. Again, the start is slow, remember time is on their side.

They have these harmless slips of paper with the names of Gods and Goddesses. I am told to stick them on all the walls of my home and look at them while doing everyday chores. Very harmless but very effective. Dr. Athavale has not missed a single trick in human psychology. He is really an expert in this field. He should use such knowledge for the good of people, instead he is misusing it on people like me and destroying our lives. Broken Dreams and Broken Relationships. What did he attain by breaking my life, my home, my peace of mind?

Why did he break me?

Slips of paper to slip in your mind

Yes, that is right. I purchased these slips of paper and stuck them all across my home. Their cost was very small I thought and the amount was insignificant. These slips of paper were everywhere, in all rooms except washrooms. I always looked at them throughout the day and whenever I used to look at them, I used to think of Sanatan Sanstha, Dr. Jayant Athavale and the sadhaks.

Mind control, nothing but pure mind control.

I had the first serious difference of opinion with my husband. He objected to them, he said that they spoilt the look of the home. It made him feel awkward. He asked me to remove them. I felt bad, very bad. My husband could not even tolerate such small things; he could not even understand me and did not even try to understand me? How could I call him a life partner?

I ran to Sanatan Sanstha and asked for their advice. I still remember the day, the time and the conversation. A senior person, we called them saints -  Sanatan Sanstha has already many saints, more than 60, advised me. She told me very strongly that the small and insignificant slips were already doing their work.

Tamasic forces at work

The saint -  I will not name her, said that they were attacking the tamasic nature of my husband. He was a tamasic person though on the face of it, he was also into spirituality and appeared to be religious minded. The names were creating an Aura around my home. However, my husband will not understand. As he is my husband, I should respect him and try to explain their importance to him. He will understand; he should understand. The other sadhaks now played their role. They said that how could my husband object to such small things; their husbands never objected, they supported them.

Sanatan Sanstha had opened a crack in my relationship with my husband. They would now work on making it deeper and deeper.

Broken Dreams and Broken Relationships.

Look at the faces behind the veil

Sanatan Sanstha - Controversial at its best.

Sanatan Sanstha seems to revel in controversies. It has been accused of mastering murders of several prominent Hindu personages -Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare, and M. M. Kalburgi are prominent among them. They have been accused of other illegal activities as well, some of their followers - they call themselves sadhaks, have been arrested for planting bombs. A doctor is being investigated for using psychotic drugs, maybe illegally acquiring and prescribing such drugs. These are all in public domain, I will not stress too much on the controversies surrounding Sanatan Sanstha. My focus is on their way of operations, the methods used by them and the logic behind them.

I know, because I have been a part of this sanstha, run by a Dr. Jayant Balaji Athavale, a so called hypnotherapist. 

I spent the best part of my life running after the ever elusive Mooksh, an offering of our "beloved" guru, just like others before me did and others are still doing. The substantial following built up by Sanatan Sanstha is impressive. Their method of communication is mesmerising. They offer the ultimate fruit to true "seekers". And people like us get taken in. We forget everything.

Broken Dreams and Broken Houses:

Yes, we forget everything and run to them, run to Sanatan Sanstha. They appear to be saviours in our troubled times. They offer solace, a calming balm to tide over the difficulties, difficulties that are part and parcel of our daily lives. They show as if they have the answers to all our questions, joining them will relieve us of all our difficulties. And some of us are so taken in that we run, run away and leave everything behind. We break our houses and homes. We break our relationships, drive away our near and dear ones; those who love us. Run away from them and the daily friction of life. Run away to one of the Sanatan Sanstha’s ashrams and join them as full time devotees. We want to immerse ourselves into the service of the sanstha and devote our life – the balance of our life, to do seva. They promise us that they will deliver spiritual upliftment, we will become free of worldly needs and wants and attain Mooksh.

Reality Bites and Bites Deep:

And then after some time, reality sets in, at least for some people who have still retained some part of their rational thinking. Some us start questioning the unquestionable faith that is demanded in Sanatan Sanstha. We are not allowed to do so. We cannot do so. But, everyone at the ashram, Sanatan Sanstha has three ashrams, the main one at Ponda, Goa, the second one at Panvel, near Mumbai and another one at Miraj, Maharashtra, faces this moment of truth. But, some of us have come too far, we have burnt too many bridges, severed too many relationships. We cannot look back; we cannot go back. Dr. Jayant Balaji Athavale has achieved his objective. He has a zombie in his hand, a zombie he can control and make him do what he wants to do, when he wants to do and in the manner, he wants to do…

I came back, came back from the brink of disaster. I am now slowly trying to regain my life. I am trying to rebuild loved relationships, relationships I had broken in the first place. It is a slow and painful process; I know I cannot rebuild my past life ever again. The pain will always remain with me till I am alive. It will remain in the hearts of my loved ones, ones I have hurt too deeply. They will carry it forward, the pain in their hearts, long after I have ceased to be.

That is the gift of Sanatan Sanstha.