John Roger and MSIA
NOTES
1. See "Transcendental Sociology."
2. Personal interview with John-Roger Hinkins at his home in Mandeville Canyon (1978). Also refer to the May 12, 1973 issue of the Movement Newspaper which elaborates on J.R.'s association with Paul Twitchell.
3. Writes an ex-member of M.S.I.A., in a personal letter to the author (dated November 15, 1983): "You may be interested to know that years ago Roger Hinkins studied with a small group in Glendale, CA that still exists called the Fellowship of Universal Guidance. Some of us went there recently to hear one of their classes which consists of information about the 3 selves and the Christ. I believe Roger Hinkins very cleverly devised a saleable package by combining the material from [Paul Twitchell and his movement] with the material from this group. . . ."
4. An example of this is Roger's acceptance of Twitchell's unusual claim that the sound of the "flute" is heard on the soul plane and that the "tinkling of bells" is audible in the casual region. No shabd yoga tradition in India connected to Radhasoami has ever stated such a thing; rather, they make reference to the sound of a "vina" (or bagpipe) in Sach Khand and the "conch" (or drum) in Trikuti, the casual plane.
5. Paul Twitchell's group is also aware of this similarity and at one time threatened lawsuits against J.R. for his actions. Memos against M.S.I.A. have been sent out by Twitchell and his attorneys.
6. Personal interview with John-Roger Hinkins at his home in Mandeville Canyon (1978-1979). The latter interview has since been transcribed by John-Roger and copied.
7. See my book, The Making of a Spiritual Movement (Del Mar: Del Mar Press, 1994).
8. Personal interview with John-Roger Hinkins, op. cit.
9. This connection between Radhasoami and American Sound Current teachings is outlined in my paper "The New Panths: Shabdism in North America," which was first presented to the American Academy of Religion at Stanford University in 1982. It has subsequently been incorporated in my book The Making of a Spiritual Movement (op. cit.). Also see "Bhrigu Samhita."
10. Refer to Isaac A. Ezekiel's Sarmad: The Jewish Saint of India (Beas: Radha Soami Foundation).
11. Personal interview with John-Roger Hinkins (op. cit.) where he revealed the "Holy Five Names" to me off tape. Also this information was confirmed by several ex-members of M.S.I.A.
12. In early 1983 at a dinner date in San Diego, California, I had the opportunity to speak with author Tal Brooke about Sathya Sai Baba's alleged homosexual advances. Brooke informed me that Sathya Sai Baba had made a "pass" at him, overtly trying to handle his genitals. Undoubtedly this is a controversial issue, but one which is coming more into the limelight each day. Below is a list of gurus who are reported to have had sexual affairs with their disciples in some way:
- 1) John-Roger Hinkins;
- 2) Sathya Sai Baba;
- 3) Thakar Singh;
- 4) Neem Karoli Baba;
- 5) Zen abbot Dick Baker;
- 6) Swami Muktananda;
- 7) Swami Rama; and
- 8) Frederick Lenz (Rama).
13. Interviews with ex-members of M.S.I.A. Also refer to the television program, "Now It Can Be Told" (Fall 1991), which records on tape the various allegations made against J.R.
14. Ibid.
15. Refer to Julian P. Johnson's The Path of the Masters (Beas: Radha Soami Foundation, 1939)--excerpts of which are included in the last note--and Sawan Singh's Spiritual Gems (Beas: Radha Soami Foundation, 1965).
16. Interviews with former students of J.R.
17. For more on the history of shabd yoga and the lineages of Sant Mat and Radhasoami masters please refer to Mark Juergensmeyer's Radhasoami Reality (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1991) and this author's The Radhasoami Tradition (New York & London: Garland Publishing, 1992).
18. See Ken Wilber's A Sociable God (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1983) and Eye to Eye (New York: Doubleday/Anchor Press, 1983).
19. Ken Wilber, op. cit.
20. Please refer to The Unknowing Sage: The Life and Work of Baba Faqir Chand (Walnut: Mount San Antonio College Press, 1993).
21. Ibid.
22. Ibid.
23. John Welwood, "On Spiritual Authority: Genuine and Counterfeit," Journal of Humanistic Psychology (Summer 1983, page 50).