Adi Da

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Adi Da in 2008.
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Not to be confused with AdidasWikipedia.

Adi Da, born Franklin Albert Jones (November 3, 1939–November 27, 2008)[1][2] was a guru/mystic/writer/artist born in Queens, New York.[3]

He gained fame as part of the spiritual counterculture movement in the 1970s, writing 75 books, as well as lecturing, the new religious movement he established being called Adidam.[4] Some followers reported having profound metaphysical experiences in Adi Da's presence, attributing these phenomena to his spiritual power.[5] Other followers remained skeptical, witnessing nothing supernatural.[6][2] He was also known, for various shorter times, as Bubba Ho-Tep, Bubba Free John, Da Free John, Da Love-Ananda, Da Kalki, Da Avadhoota, Da Avabhasa, Adi Da Love-Ananda Samraj amongst other names.

A main teaching was that "'ego'—the presumption of a separate self—is an illusion," rendering futile efforts to connect with divine truths from the traditional theistic stance of separateness.[7]:197[8] Adi Da declared himself a unique spiritual avatar, and you can only achieve enlightenment by following him and his Generic Eastern-ish Religion.[9]:99 His teachings were almost exclusively "Divine Self-Revelation" with "no outside sources" — which some would take as code for PIDOOMA.

He was also criticized for perceived isolationism,[10][11] and controversial behavior.[12][6] Although he died in 2008 leaving an undetermined number of followers, you can still buy his DVDs for the neat and tidy sum of $26.95. Allegations of sexual misconduct in the mid-1980s were met with countersuits, resulting in dismissal or settlement of the claims.[13][14][15]

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. "Spiritual leader passes on". www.fijitimes.com. November 28, 2008. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Obituaries". June 2009. 
  3. "An Introduction to Avatar Adi Da". www.adidam.org. 
  4. Georg Feuerstein, The Yoga Tradition: Its History, Literature, Philosophy and Practice, p. 25.
  5. Feuerstein, "Holy Madness", (1992), p. 84.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Lowe, Scott; Lane, David (1996). DA: The Strange Case of Franklin Jones. Mt. San Antonio College Philosophy Group. ISBN 1-56543-054-9. 
  7. Forsthoefel, Thomas A.; Humes, Cynthia Ann (2005). Gurus in America. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press. ISBN 0-7914-6573-X. 
  8. Chryssides, George D. (2006). The A to Z of New Religious Movements. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press. pp. 47–48, 200. ISBN 0-8108-5588-7. 
  9. Gallagher, Eugene V.; Ashcraft, W. Michael (2006). Introduction to New and Alternative Religions in America [Five Volumes]. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-275-98712-4. 
  10. Wilber, Ken (October 11, 1996). "The Case of Adi Da". wilber.shambhala.com. 
  11. Gallagher, Eugene V.; Ashcraft, W. Michael (2006). Introduction to New and Alternative Religions in America, Vol IV.. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. p. 93. ISBN 0-275-98712-4. 
  12. Feuerstein, Georg (1996). "Holy Madness: The Dangerous and Disillusioning Example of Da Free John". What is Enlightenment? Spring/Summer 1996 (9). ISSN 1080-3432. 
  13. Duke, Lynne (June 12, 2005). "Deep Throat's Daughter, The Kindred Free Spirit". The Washington Post. 
  14. "Sex Slave Sues Guru: Pacific Isle Orgies Charged". San Francisco Chronicle. April 4, 1985. 
  15. Collin, Molly (April 17, 1985). "Da Free John Sect Sues 6 Ex-Members On Extortion Charge". Mill Valley Record.