Now I Realize That He Only Wants Money

By Anon

Reading these blogs has been insightful for me. Lots of questions have been answered. I quit the movement 10 years ago. But before that, gave a huge share of my life to Ravi. He was spreading “knowledge” , peace, making this a better place. Such a good cause and now my life had some meaning. So, I undertook this task of going into the interiors of the land(many times) to a small village ( not a pleasant experience). There was a large low- income group. They were supported by the Government agencies. To access them was getting into an unending bureaucratic circle. Bureaucracy in any part of the world is the same, it is slow. However, a couple of years of constant trying, making frequent trips to the place, all financed by me ,never taking NO for an answer, the permissions were given.

Ravi was happy too. And said that now I should even try to get the officials to take the course. So more VIP’s on his list of devotees. More fame etc. Anyway, I asked him if the course could be give free, or at a nominal rate. After all, this could now get him to meet the Governor and Mayor, plus it would put AoL in a positive light. And needless to say, this group could really do with this sort of a course. Ravi agreed. So after a few courses, even getting a brief mention on television, imagine my surprise/ shock when a circular was sent out by the Senior Heads ( with greater access to Ravi) to the other teachers and volunteers that I was not an `”example to follow”” as no concessions of any kind were allowed. It was humiliating. I called him while he was in the Indian Ashram, ( international calls to India are expensive) and called many time before he finally came on the line. I explained the situation to him. He said he’d get back. He never did. Emails, phone calls, messages through people visiting the Ashram received no response.

I quit the movement. I was giving him my life, and yet when an opportunity arose, for him to be just and large hearted he maintained silence. All he had to do was tell the seniors to back off, and inform them that he was aware of the fee structure.He didn’t do that and let me deal with this humiliation on my own. I was like the butt of ridicule. I thought that he was a coward and who wants a coward for a guru. But as I read the blogs, I realize that he just wants money. He does not believe in charity. Yet these guys want everything free for themselves. Free venue, free food free printed material etc. During that time he was also told that he could “adopt” this community for a mere $ 2000. He declined saying we should raise our own funds for that, as AoL will not give that. That contribution could have made a difference in those peoples lives. Now I realize that he only wants money.

I have also traveled with him. I was shocked that he has time only for the moneyed. I had to fend for myself in a foreign land speaking in a foreign language. I could only meet him briefly on the day of my departure .

Yes, I always got perplexed when he would bad mouth his own workers. Make fun of them behind their backs. One prominent volunteer is obese. But does a lot of work and Ravi would laugh about the obesity problem behind her back. He would make fun of old parents of his teachers . It was disgusting. And he would encourage others present there to also crack jokes of the people he was attacking. It was a ”bitchy” session. There were lot of such sessions. He can be rude to his senior followers too. Not only have I seen him do that, I have also seen how terribly rude his mother was (God bless her soul) .