Sokaren - 1974 No 05

Magazine Overview

Title: SÖKAREN
Issue: NR5
Date: 1974

This issue of SÖKAREN, a Swedish magazine, delves into the world of Tantric Yoga and Meditation in Scandinavia, featuring an in-depth interview with Swami Janakananda. The magazine also explores various Eastern religions, mysticism, and paranormal phenomena, presenting a diverse range of spiritual and philosophical perspectives.

Interview with Swami Janakananda

The central piece of the magazine is an interview with Swami Janakananda, the guru and teacher at Satyam Yoga Ashram in Hellerup, Copenhagen, and Håå Thorstensgård in Hamneda, Sweden. Swami Janakananda explains that the Satyam Yoga Ashram is a place for living, working, and learning yoga and meditation, attracting people who seek spiritual fulfillment beyond Western traditions. He recounts his journey to India and his two years at the Bihar School of Yoga, where he learned the Kriya Yoga method. He emphasizes that their approach to Tantra is practical and does not require drastic life changes, focusing on self-awareness and inner harmony rather than strict asceticism or dogma. The interview touches upon the various techniques taught, including yoga nidra, antar mouna, ajapa jap, and prana vidya, highlighting their dynamic nature and ability to inspire the mind.

Swami Janakananda describes Kriya Yoga as a powerful meditation method supported by scientific research (EEG measurements) that shows increased brain activity and deep states of relaxation. He clarifies that the original Tantric Kriya Yoga is secret and passed down from teacher to student, requiring significant maturity. He defines meditation as 'clear wakefulness' and 'clear awareness,' leading to self-understanding. The daily schedule at the ashram is intensive, starting early with yoga, followed by concentration and meditation techniques, physical exercises, and relaxation. He notes that students consistently report positive results.

He further explains yoga nidra as a state of deep meditative relaxation where one can be aware even while the body rests, and antar mouna as achieving inner stillness and a detached acceptance of thoughts. The goal of meditation, he states, is the 'Self,' leading to freedom, the ability to choose freely, and to live, work, and create freely.

Other Articles and Themes

Percival on Poetry and Yoga

Artist and poet Percival discusses yoga as a way to purify the body and psyche, leading to a stronger connection with nature and increased self-awareness. He refutes the idea of yoga as escapism, calling it an 'increased knowledge of life.' Percival emphasizes that yoga is essential in modern times for integrating a fragmented mind and achieving a holistic self. He likens the body to a universe with immense potential and yoga as its 'true language,' enabling a liberating experience and a deeper understanding of life's rhythms.

Ragnar Alcén on Church, Occultism, and Mysticism

Ragnar Alcén analyzes the decline of traditional Christianity in Sweden and the rise of interest in occultism, mysticism, and Eastern spiritual practices. He notes that while only a small percentage of the population regularly attends church, there's a growing fascination with mediums, visionaries, astrologers, and parapsychology. Alcén suggests this shift is due to the breakdown of the established church structure in the late 19th century, leaving a spiritual vacuum that scientific disciplines and new spiritual movements attempt to fill. He discusses theosophy and its motto 'There is no religion higher than truth,' but points out that 'truth' in this context is not scientific but a specific interpretation of reality. He highlights the concept of 'insight' in occult movements, which often relies on accepting certain 'eternal truths' rather than empirical evidence. Alcén concludes that the success of these movements stems from the loss of a unifying symbolic framework provided by the Christian church and the human need for symbols and mystical recognition.

Martin Lönnebo on Christian Mysticism and the Occult Wave

Chaplain Martin Lönnebo discusses the growing interest in the occult and its relationship with traditional Christian mysticism. He suggests that the church's own rigid and uninspiring approach to faith may have contributed to people seeking spiritual answers elsewhere. Lönnebo argues that while God's freedom to manifest in unconventional ways should be acknowledged, caution is necessary regarding the occult due to its potential for mixing healthy and unhealthy elements, sometimes leading to negative consequences for vulnerable individuals. He outlines three forms of Christian mysticism: faith mysticism (Protestant), love mysticism (Roman Catholic), and light mysticism (Orthodox). He stresses that true mysticism, regardless of its religious origin, should lead to compassion and action for others, not withdrawal from the world.

Broge Wilén's Report on Religion and Mission

Broge Wilén reports on a theme day at Sandöskolan focusing on religion and mission. The event included presentations on various non-Christian religions and their presence in Sweden.

• Baha'i: Åke Johansson describes the Baha'i faith as a young world religion founded in the mid-19th century by Baha'u'llah, emphasizing unity of God, religion, and humanity. It seeks to unite the spiritual and social realms, advocating for world peace, pacifism, and universal human rights. The faith has spread globally, with scriptures translated into 500 languages.
• Buddhism: Erling Johannesson, editor of Buddist-Bulletin, shares his conversion to Buddhism after realizing its depth and ability to answer questions Christianity could not. He advocates for a more accurate representation of Buddhism through publications, countering misrepresentations often found in schoolbooks.
• Hare Krishna Movement: Jörgen Sundvall introduces the Hare Krishna movement, an outreach religion that has gained a presence in Sweden. Members, distinguished by their shaved heads and white attire, follow Vedic scriptures but also acknowledge the truth in other religious texts. They chant mantras and aim to spread Krishna consciousness.
• Islam: Björn Ericsson discusses the challenges faced by Muslims in Sweden, particularly regarding prayer practices due to secularization. He notes the significant increase in the Muslim population and the compromises made to practice their faith. He also mentions the Ahmadiyya movement's missionary activities among Swedes.

Wilén concludes that while there is a need for mission in Sweden, it should be a reciprocal exchange of experiences and knowledge, not an imposition of beliefs.

Indian Miracles and Gurus

Fred Ackerman recounts his experiences in India, encountering two gurus: Baba Bhutanat and Satya Sai Baba. He describes witnessing alleged paranormal phenomena, such as the materialization of ash ('vibuthi'), nuts, raisins, and even a mango out of season by Baba Bhutanat. Ackerman also details Sai Baba's claims of being an avatar and his performance of similar materializations. While initially skeptical, Ackerman becomes convinced of their paranormal nature but questions their true spiritual value, noting that many spiritual leaders consider such 'miracles' to be distractions from genuine spiritual development. He cites the view that true spiritual masters do not rely on such displays but focus on inner transformation and love.

Mary Baker Eddy's 'Science and Health with Key to the Scripture'

Nordfrid Moersberger shares his family's profound experience with Mary Baker Eddy's book, 'Science and Health with Key to the Scripture.' He describes how the book provided answers to fundamental questions about God, humanity, and life, offering a spiritual perspective that contrasted with materialism. The book is credited with leading to physical healings and a deeper understanding of spiritual principles, emphasizing God as an ever-present Love and the spiritual nature of reality. Moersberger highlights the book's emphasis on truth leading to freedom and its role in fostering a harmonious family life.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the intersection of Eastern spirituality, Western culture, and the search for meaning in modern life. There's a clear interest in alternative religious and mystical paths, contrasting them with traditional Western religious frameworks. The editorial stance appears open to exploring diverse spiritual traditions, including yoga, meditation, various world religions, and even paranormal phenomena, while also critically examining their authenticity and spiritual value. The magazine seems to advocate for a holistic approach to life, integrating spiritual understanding with practical living and personal well-being. There's an underlying theme of seeking deeper truths beyond superficial materialism and societal norms.

Title: Sökaren
Issue: 5
Volume: 11
Date: March 1974
Publisher: Sökaren
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish
ISSN: 0037-750X

Articles and Content

MÖTE MED URI GELLER (Meeting Uri Geller)

This article by Lennart Lidfors recounts a personal encounter with Uri Geller in Stockholm. The author, part of a research group, describes Geller's ability to bend a key without physical contact, a coffee spoon that continued to bend after Geller released it, and a sugar bowl that spontaneously deformed. Geller also reportedly reversed the hands of watches and caused a bronze bird to fly across a room. The author notes Geller's claim that these are genuine psychic powers, not tricks.

During the evening, Geller also demonstrated telepathy by accurately reproducing a drawing made by a researcher in another room, though often in a mirror image. He also engaged with Kirlian photography, showing 'bioplasma radiation'. The author contrasts Geller's abilities with those of illusionists like Truxa, who dismisses Geller as a mere trickster.

Lidfors expresses frustration with the Swedish press's negative and dismissive attitude towards Geller, contrasting it with Geller's own perception of his abilities as genuine psychic forces. Geller himself is described as sympathetic, intelligent, open, honest, quick, spontaneous, sensitive, and cooperative.

STANFORD RESEARCH INSTITUTE EXPERIMENTS

This section details experiments conducted at the Stanford Research Institute (SRI) with Uri Geller and another individual, Ingo Swann. The article addresses criticisms leveled against SRI, clarifying that it is a serious, non-profit research institute, not directly part of Stanford University, and that Geller was compensated for his participation. The experiments were funded partly by former astronaut Edgar D. Mitchell.

Researchers Harold E. Puthoff and Russell Targ state they do not claim Geller has psychic powers but have observed phenomena they cannot scientifically explain, warranting further research. Experiments were designed to be 'double-blind' and 'trick-proof'.

• Specific experiments described include:
• Dice Rolling: Geller correctly guessed the outcome of a dice roll in a closed metal box eight times in a row, a statistically improbable event.
• Hidden Objects: Geller identified the correct aluminum can containing a hidden object twelve times out of twelve, again with extremely low probability of success by chance.
• Drawings: While Geller was not present at SRI, he reproduced seven drawings sealed in envelopes with near-perfect accuracy.
• Weight: Geller reportedly caused a precision scale to register weights beyond the actual 1g object placed on it.

SRI also conducted experiments involving bending rings and spoons without physical contact, observing physical effects but unable to determine the mechanism.

BOOK REVIEWS

• Alf Ahlberg's Minnesbilder (Memories): A review of the first part of Alf Ahlberg's memoirs, covering his life from 1892-1926. The book describes his childhood, education, and early intellectual development, including his encounters with philosophy and his eventual move towards a belief in love as a suffering and struggling force in the world, influenced by Dostoevsky and a mystical experience.
• Katedralmystik (Cathedral Mysticism): A review of Louis Charpentier's book on the mysteries of Chartres Cathedral. The book explores the spiritual significance and alleged energetic properties of the site, linking it to ancient druidic practices and a powerful underground water current.
• Den Ockulta Vågen (The Occult Wave): A review of a study by Kerstin Berg-Melin and Kristina Bylund on occult material in Swedish weekly magazines from 1936-1971. The study found an increase in occult content over time, shifting from fictional to more contemporary phenomena. The authors suggest this trend may be linked to economic downturns, with people turning to irrational beliefs during times of uncertainty.

EDVARD NAUMOV DÖMD (Eduard Naumov Convicted)

A news brief reports that Soviet parapsychologist Eduard Naumov was sentenced to two years of labor camp in Moscow for misusing funds and lecturing to opposition circles. Naumov refused to cease contact with foreign specialists. A Soviet psychiatrist, Andrej Snesjnevskij, testified that parapsychology is a 'false science'.

REFLEXIONER (Reflections) by Per Ragnar

Per Ragnar discusses his experiences receiving calls from people seeking to discuss life philosophies, often after profound experiences. He notes the rise of interest in meditation techniques, particularly those originating from India, following Maharishi's introduction of Transcendental Meditation to the West. Ragnar emphasizes that while many paths exist, they all stem from the same root. He references Paul Brunton's 'The Secret Path' and Nils-Olof Jacobson's 'Meditation's Ways' as valuable resources for understanding the diversity of meditative practices.

Ragnar stresses the importance of inner listening and self-discovery, stating that the goal of meditation is not personal happiness but expanded communication with others and all of life.

###