Obituary - Franklin Jones aka Adi Da Samraj Dies in Fiji
By Editor, from www.adidaarchives.org
December 7, 2008
Franklin Jones, an American guru known by various names including Adi Da Samraj, Da Free John, and Bubba Free John died November 27, 2008 at the age of 69. He passed away suddenly and unexpectedly as a result of a heart attack while at home on his private island in Fiji.
Documents indicate that disciples in Adi Da’s inner circle expected that he might rise from the dead within three days and “Reanimate His Divine Bodily Human Form.” Adi Da and his followers claim that on several past occasions he has died and then returned to life for the sake of the world and his devotees. Accordingly, shortly after his death senior disciples reminded other devotees that Adi Da was a “Divine Yogi” and “the Greatest of Master Yogis,” and instructed them pray to Adi Da, asking that he return to his body. Alas, he did not do so.
Devotees also expressed the hope that Adi Da’s body would not show signs of decay, which they believed would be an indication that he was in fact a great yogi, and would also have allowed the body to be displayed for an extended pre-burial vigil. It is apparent that the body must have begun to decay, however, as Adi Da was buried on November 30th, only three days after his death.
Franklin Jones first emerged as a spiritual teacher in Los Angeles in 1972, after studying with the Indian guru Swami Muktananda and spending time as a member and employee of Scientology. Starting with a very small group of devotees who would meet with him in a bookstore, he eventually built a spiritual community known as Adidam that has properties in Fiji, Hawaii, California and elsewhere around the world.
Educated at Stanford and Columbia, Jones brought formidable intellect and creativity to bear upon the task of westernizing some of the eastern spiritual concepts that young Americans in the early 1970’s were becoming interested in. Over the course of his life, he self-published hundreds of books and magazines outlining and revising his spiritual teachings, including his own spiritual autobiography “The Knee of Listening.” His core teachings incorporate many of the ideas he learned from studying the Kashmir Shaivite and Advaita Vedanta schools of Hinduism, but they also contain his own original insights and opinions about both spirituality and secular culture. Many observers note that the spiritual practices and experiences typically engaged in by Adi Da and his community tended to reflect the Occult tradition or possibly a degenerate version of Guru Bhakti Yoga (guru worship), more than the "non-dualist" (i.e., all that exists is God) perspective emphasized in many of his books and formal discourses.
As Franklin Jones’ career progressed, he adopted a succession of “spiritual” names and eventually proclaimed himself to be the First, Last, and Only perfectly enlightened Spiritual Adept that has ever appeared on Earth or will ever appear in the future. He also indicated that his own spiritual stature and “spiritual realization” was superior to that of Jesus or Buddha. In 1983 he predicted that before he died all of humanity (whom he called “five billion slugs”) would acknowledge him, and said that if he had not come to Earth all of humanity would have been destroyed.
Adi Da was considered a controversial figure due to persistent accusations that he was having sex with large numbers of devotees, drinking obsessively, abusing drugs, engaging in incidents of violence against women, and financially exploiting his followers. Critics claim these activities were primarily a reflection of Adi Da’s own personal desires, preferences and character flaws, and were generally engaged in with little regard for their impact on others. Some claim that their consent to participate with Adi Da was gained through fraud, deception, or cognitive dissonance. Others state that they were harmed or traumatized by his abuses. Adi Da consistently claimed that all of his activities were forms of selfless spiritual teaching or “crazy wisdom,” designed to reflect devotees’ own tendencies back to them and thereby accelerate their spiritual development.
In 1985, tensions escalated when a number of ex-devotees requested an audience with Adi Da to air grievances, and he refused to communicate with them. As a result, various lawsuits were filed by and against Adi Da, his organization, and former members. A great deal of international media attention followed. Adi Da himself refused to respond to any of the charges made against him at that time, preferring to withdraw into seclusion in Fiji during the controversy and allow devotees to defend him. He finally emerged from seclusion once the media attention faded and the lawsuits had been settled, only to fall into despair and feelings of failure that contributed to his suffering a major breakdown in 1986. This breakdown was later explained by Adi Da as a miraculous incident of death and resurrection that he called the “Divine Emergence.”
Although Adi Da described himself as the “World Teacher,” he did not have any significant interactions or communications with anyone outside of his group during the course of his career. His organization has stayed very small, with at most 1000 – 2000 active formal devotees. This despite the publication of more than a hundred books, some of them praised by academics and scholars, and the investment of millions of dollars on “missionary” efforts over a period of more than 35 years. Franklin Jones as “Da Free John” and “Bubba Free John” was relatively well known in the 1970’s and 80’s among those interested in eastern spirituality, but faded into obscurity during the last decade.
The group has attracted an ongoing stream of new members over the years, but experienced a very high turnover rate that kept it from growing. This is not surprising given Adi Da's ongoing assessment for 35 years that his devotees were not rightly understanding him, not maturing in their spiritual practice, and not fulfilling his charge to build a spiritual community that would change the world and bring him the kind of worldwide acknowledgment he wanted. Adidam demands a lot from members, but by its leader's own estimation is not creating the kind of spiritual transformation in devotees that Adi Da promised it would.
Adi Da is survived by an unknown number of self-described “wives” (consorts who were not legally married to him) over the past 35 years and three daughters by three of these. The youngest, Naamleela Jones at age 28 is the subject of frequent speculation as a succession candidate to lead the Adidam organization. Adidam has not yet made a formal announcement regarding any changes in structure or leadership following the death of its founder.
Further information on Adi Da is available at www.adidaarchives.org (critics’ viewpoint) and www.adidam.org (Daists’ viewpoint).
Adidam emails on Adi Da death from Nov. 26-27, 2008
Franklin Albert Jones ~ born 11:21 AM November 3, 1939 (New York time) ~ died 5:10 PM November 27th, 2008 (Fiji time) ~
Here are four November 26-27 emails
which devotees received relative to the dying and death of their guru – these
were also posted at the
www.lightmind.com website
1.
Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 11:37:39 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific
Subject: Adi Da Samraj Health Situation
Dear Fellow Devotees,
Praise to Beloved Bhagavan Adi Da Samraj.
At this moment Beloved Bhagavan Adi Da Samraj is experiencing an extreme medical
crisis. We do not know the full extent of what is happening with His Divine
Bodily Human Form. However, this crisis is an extreme one in which He has
Swooned out of His Body. This has occurred to the extent that He has not had a
heart-beat or pulse, for nearly an hour's time. Medical procedures are not
reviving Him.
Beloved Bhagavan Adi Da has in the past Approved a medical protocol relative to
such a circumstance. He has made it plain that nothing should be done to
interfere with His Bodily Human Form for an extended period of time, a minimum
of three full days. This is because He may always and at any point resume
ordinary Consciousness and Life. However, at this moment, He is not animating
the body at all.
He was working in Picture Perfect at the Matrix, at Adi Da Samrajashram. It
appeared to be a normal day, and He had been with the healers last night and was
doing very well physically. He has actually been stronger and in better health
over the past few weeks. Therefore it was a surprise when He simply collapsed,
while working on His Divine Avataric Image Art.
As devotees know, Beloved Bhagavan Adi Da Samraj is a Divine Yogi. There is a
long history of such beings having very unconventional "death events" or moments
in their lives. We have seen this in Beloved Bhagavan's Case in many
circumstances in the past--the Ruchira Dham or Lopez Island Event, and the
Divine Emergence, as merely two of them. Certainly it is the hope of this
moment, as we write, that Beloved Bhagavan will Re-Enter His Body and begin a
new Phase of His Work. It is our hope and intention that He will Re-Animate the
Body and wake up.
Here at Adi Da Samrajashram we are all invoking and praying for Adi Da Samraj to
resume His Bodily Functioning. Ruchiradama Quandra Sukhapur Rani has repeated to
us, that His Motive in Returning to the Body will be devotees' heart-need and
calling. All devotees are asked at this moment to engage in a Vigil of Prayer
and Invocation of Beloved Bhagavan Adi Da, and a Calling to Him to Stay here
with us.
In the history of the Great Tradition, there have been many great Yogic
Realizers who have dropped out of their bodies for an extended period of time,
without heartbeat or pulse, and later Spiritual Revived. This was the case with
Swami Nityananda in the 1920s. He left the body for many hours and was believed
by many to have died. Upon returning, he declared that his work was simply not
done. Also Shirdi Sai Baba left his body for a full three days in the 1880s, and
upon returning there was a dramatic change in the fullness and potency of his
work. Examples like this are numerous. And Adi Da Samraj is the Greatest of
Master Yogis. Therefore we call upon devotees to invoke and call upon Adi Da
Samraj with our full heart-need for His Continued Presence amongst us in Bodily
Human Divine Form.
At this moment, Adi Da Samraj remains lying in horizontal position at Picture
Perfect. The devotees here are gathered around the building, doing Vigil and
calling upon Him to remain with us, with full heart need. Drs. Charles Seage and
Andrew Dorfman are with Beloved Bhagavan, as well as the Ruchiradamas, and many
devotees to assist in tending to Adi Da Samraj.
One recommended action you can take, is to go into your Communion Hall and
invoke Beloved Bhagavan down into His Divine Body, through waving of lights,
chanting, recitations, the Devotional Prayer of Changes, or simply heartfelt
invocation and communion with Him.
We will continue to inform and update you as the evening progresses.
Om Sri Parama Sapta Adi Da Love-Ananda Hridayam
---------------------------------------
2.
Subject: Update on Bhagavan Adi Da Samraj
Dear devotees,
At 8 pm Fiji time, Lesley Huber, speaking on behalf of the Ruchira Sannyasin
Order Authority Office, made the following communication:
"At approximately 5:10 pm Fiji time, while working with His Divine Image Art in
Picture Perfect, it appears that Bhagavan Adi Da suffered a massive heart
attack, and since that time has shown no heartbeat or pulse. At this time, 8 pm,
medical intervention has been suspended in respect for the Divine Yogic
Integrity of the Master's Body.
Masters choose their time of relinquishing the body, and saints and realizers
have returned after extended periods without apparent life signs.
At this point, all devotees should understand that this is a Divine Yogic
matter, and participate accordingly. Devotees in Hermitage are in a deep Vigil
in and around Picture Perfect, and it is essential that devotees worldwide
likewise enter into a Vigil in their own places of Communion and Worship. We
encourage devotees to gather, wherever possible, in the Empowered Halls of the
gathering, and stay connected."
We will continue to send further updates as they become available.
Om Sri Parama-Sapta-Na Adi Da, Love-Ananda Hridayam
--------------------------------
3.
Sent: Thursday, November 27, 2008 12:55 AM
Subject: Further update
Update on Beloved Bhagavan Adi Da's Condition
Beloved Bhagavan Adi Da Samraj's Bodily Human Divine Form is now lying on His
Bed in His Bedroom at Aham Da Asmi Sthan at the Matrix.
His Bodily Human Form was carried on a stretcher in silent procession from
Picture Perfect to Aham Da Asmi Sthan. Beloved Bhagavan was covered with a
sannyasin orange shawl during this time.
A number of devotees are now in the Bedroom with Adi Da Samraj keeping Vigil
with lit deepa lamps. The rest of the Adi Da Samrajashram devotees are keeping
Vigil outside on the veranda in front of the Darshan swing.
Please continue to invoke and call Adi Da Samraj to Reanimate His Divine Bodily
Human Form for the sake of each of us and for the entire world.
Om Sri Parama-Sapta-Na Adi Da, Love-Ananda Hridayam
----------------------------------
4.
Sent: Thursday, November 27, 2008 7:39:59 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific
Subject: From the RSO Re: Mahasamadhi/Invitation to Naitauba
Dear Devotees,
It is the middle of the night here at Adi Da Samrajashram, devotees remain in
what is now clearly the Mahasamadhi Vigil of Beloved Bhagavan Sapta Na Adi Da
Samraj. The time of Beloved Bhagavan's Divine Mahasamadhi is being placed at
approximately 5:10 PM on Thursday, November 27th, 2008.
Everyone here has been shocked at how quickly the Mahasamadhi occurred. Bhagavan
Adi Da was sitting in His Chair Working in Picture Perfect. Just a minute
before, He had been Giving Instructions relative to His Divine Image Art. A few
minutes before that, He had been speaking humorously and laughing. And then He
silently fell over on His Side and within a very short period of no more than a
couple of minutes, He had entered into His Mahasamadhi. Dr. Charles Seage and
Dr. Andrew Dorfman diagnose that Beloved Bhagavan suffered a fatal heart attack.
There were no signs of struggle, but a quick and painless transition.
Beloved Bhagavan had given no indications that He was going to be taking
Mahasamadhi. Up until that point, He had been experiencing what seemed to be a
normal day. He had been continuing His Divine Puja of preparing gifts for Dana
vira Mela earlier in the day, and had been in Picture Perfect for a good part of
the day.
Beloved Bhagavan Adi Da's Body is now sitting upright on His Bed in His Bedroom
at Aham Da Asmi Sthan. He is draped in orange clothes.
The Ruchira Sannyasin Order and a few intimate devotees are sitting in the
bedroom with Him. Devotees are also sitting on the veranda outside of His Room
in silent meditative communion.
Beloved Bhagavan has previously Given Instructions that His Body is to be
allowed to rest uninterferred with for a minimum of three days before it is
taken to the Outshining "Brightness", His Permanent Mahasamadhi resting place.
The pre-burial Vigil may last longer, even for several weeks, if Beloved
Bhagavan's Body does not show signs of decay.
Ruchiradama Quandra Sukhapur has invited all to come to Naitauba during this
time. Everyone is invited. All four congregations of devotees. And anyone else
who wishes to come who will be rightly related to making this pilgrimage. This
has all happened so quickly that we have not yet figured out how the practical
details will be managed. But anyone who is moved to come to Naitauba to
participate in Beloved Bhagavan's Mahasamadhi Vigil should begin to consider
their practical arrangements to make the pilgrimage.
As mentioned, there is no way to know exactly how long it will be before Beloved
Bhagavan's Divine Bodily Human Form will be Sacredly Interned at the Outshining
"Brightness". If the pre-burial Vigil only lasts the minimum period of three
days, Beloved Bhagavan's Divine Bodily Human Form could be Installed at the
Outshining "Brightness" as early as late Sunday. So all who wish to be here for
this Sacred Ceremony should begin to make immediate plans for the journey.
This is a very difficult time for all devotees and friends of Adi Da Samraj. Adi
Da has always told us that His Mahasamadhi would be the time when He would most
fully enter into His Divine Translation. He has said that it would be for Him a
Divine Outshining of this Realm altogether. And He has also told us, that it
would unleash a further Siddhi of His Divine Blessing. This is already being
felt by devotees here at Adi Da Samrajashram. So even though this is one of the
most difficult times that all devotees will ever experience, in terms of the
Mahasamadhi of our Beloved Divine Master, it will also best also be a time in
which we remain focused in our Divine whole bodily turning to Beloved Bhagavan.
It feels here that somehow He is "holding up" all of His devotees to go through
this moment with equanimity and continued reception of His Divine Blessing.
(From James Steinberg at Adi Da Samrajashram)
Om Sri Parama-Sapta-Na Adi Da Love-Ananda Hridayam
The Fiji Times (link to original article)
Spiritual leader passes on
Friday, November 28, 2008
Update: 4:30PM
Adi Da Samraj, leader of a spiritual community based at Naitauba in Lau, passed away at his home on the island on Thursday.
Adi Da Samraj, 69, established Naitauba as his principal teaching retreat in 1983 and became a Fiji citizen in 1993.
Spokesperson for the Naitauba Trust, owner of the island, Matt Wilson said Adi Da Samrajs followers from many countries around the world would continue to maintain Naitauba as a centre for quiet study and contemplation for those who come there year round.
Courses at the Naitauba retreat programs focus on Samraj Adi Das teachings of spiritual self-realisation, tolerance, respect, the unity of humanity, world peace and cooperation.
He said Adi Da Samraj wrote many books about his beliefs.
He also encouraged his students to study the worlds great religious traditions.
Adi Da Samraj was a legal renunciate, who owned no personal possessions.
Mr Wilson said Naitauba is a significant contributor to the economy of the Lau Group.
"It provides employment and contributes to many social and educational causes including scholarships for students in the Lau and Cakaudrove provinces."