September 26, 2015 'Congress urges PM Modi to Ban Sanatan Sanstha’
http://bit.ly/1ixPPQu September 24, 2015 Panaji: Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi denouncing the activities of Sanatan Sanstha and called for a unilateral ban on the organization and its activities. The state Congress unit has pointed out to the Sanatan Sanstha's members' involvement in the 2009 Margao bomb blast and the recent arrest of one of its members for the murder of Govind Pansare. "It should be noted that Hindus have not given any contract to the Sanatanis, who are self-proclaimed protectors of Hinduism, to protect the religion. It is high time the national government and the state government declare Sanatan Sanstha as a terrorist organization and impose a complete ban on its operations," the party said in a written statement. GPCC has gone on to term the Sanstha's involvement in criminal activities as "anti-national and sick." The party has addressed the letter to the Union home minister Rajnath Singh and to chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar. Parsekar, while addressing the media earlier on Wednesday, stated that there was no justifiable reason to impose a ban on Sanatan Sanstha because of the activities of a few of its members. [TOI] http://bit.ly/1ixPPQu Goa Chief Minister Rules Out Banning Sanatan Sanstha -Huffington Post India In the midst of polarising opinions over the fate of Sanatan Sanstha, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said today that although a member of the group is a suspect in the killing of well-known rationalist Govind Pansare, the Goa-based http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNGiO7uNTYHJfmp7x4hZ0OfC3kaXOA&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&cid=52778952208227&ei=focEVo6tOsXapweWhI7YDA&url=http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2015/09/23/goa-chief-minister-rules-_n_8181870.html *Goa BJP MLA, locals seek ban on Sanatan Sanstha – Mumbai** Mirror Chief-minister-Laxmikant-Parsekar-rules-our-Sanatan-Sanstha-ban/articleshow/49083302.cms">Goa* * chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar rules our Sanatan Sanstha ban. * http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNF14Zox42n7vSqUcdLjj0e-GFygnQ&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&cid=52778957010916&ei=_jUDVoigLJmN3wHC8auADA&url=http://www.mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/crime/Goa-BJP-MLA-locals-seek-ban-on-Sanatan-Sanstha/articleshow/49082500.cms *"The Ideology of Sanatan Sanstha"* *What in the name of Spirituality does underlie the hidden agenda of the so called Non-profit organization called SANATAN SANSTHA that was founded by Jayant Balaji Athavale a consultant in clinical hypnotherapist from Mumbai? OR IS HE A MESSIAH whose ulterior motive to join the ranks of RSS, VHP and other zealots in the BELIEF IN CLINICAL (scientific) belief in Supernatural being).* *LET ALL IN INDIA KNOW the Ideology of Sanatan Sanstha even though many would already know by now and how they go about it and who is the man responsible for this foundation.. excerpts from Wikipedia:* *The Sanatan Sanstha is a non-profit organization registered in India. It was founded in 1990 by Jayant Balaji Athavale with the blessings of Bhaktaraj Maharaj and is based on the study of spirituality. As a science. The stated main aim of the organization is to present spirituality in a scientific language for the curious (Jidnayasu) ) and to guide seekers. The Sanstha has a chain of center in different parts of India and abroad.* *He undertook extensive research on clinical hypnosis both in India and overseas and practiced in Great Britain from 1971 to 1978. **However, after practicing as a hypnotherapist for twenty years, he realized that nearly 30 per cent of his patients did not recover with the usual treatment regimens. On the contrary, many of those patients recovered fully after having gone on a pilgrimage, or having followed the spiritual advice of a saint. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanatan_Sanstha#cite_note-Sanatan-5> Although Athavale was an atheist at that time, this phenomenon intrigued him and prompted him to take steps to study reasons behind these cures. * *Athavale has worked in the field of spirituality to share with humanity the findings of his research into the deeper understanding of the spiritual dimension using a scientific approach. * *In order to achieve this end, he has published more than 1.6 million copies of spiritual books in Hindi, Marathi, Kanada, Gujarati, English and six other languages since 2002. * *News Today* *columnist V. Sundaram describes Athavale as a "rare spirit who brings to ordinary men a realization of their own divinity and makes spiritual life seem adventurous and attractive, so that they may go forth into the world with a new interest and a new joy at heart."* *He claims that Athavale's work has been recognized by Hindu saints and sages belonging to all denominations* *He visited saints from different spiritual paths all over India. He asked them questions about the theory as well as the practice of the science of Spirituality and carefully recorded the answers. Slowly, He began to realize that medical sciences are limited to the physical and to some extent the psychological aspects of the patient, but it leaves out the entire spiritual dimension. * *Athavale came to the conclusion that there was another science far superior to physical and psychological medicine, and that was the "science of spirituality" rooted in Sanatana Dharma**. * *The saints told him that spirituality is not a science which can be learnt just from books, but one needs to practice it, so he started intense spiritual practice under their direction. As a result of his efforts, **Bhaktaraj Maharaj <https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bhaktaraj_Maharaj&action=edit&redlink=1>* *came into his life as a spiritual guru to guide him further* *Realizing the importance of what he called the science of spirituality, Athavale started advising his patients to follow some spiritual practice. To his great joy and satisfaction, he found that the cure rate among his patients increased substantially by following this new path of guided spirituality. * *Ploughing deeper and deeper into the field of the theory and practice of spirituality, he wrote 21 volumes on this subject with the objective of educating and guiding humanity at large about their need to take to the sublime path and enter the field of spirituality rooted in Sanatana Dharma. * *In 1988, Athavale started conducting free of charge workshops on spirituality in the city of Mumbai. In 1990, with the blessings of his sadguru, Bhaktaraj Maharaj of Indore, he founded the Sanatan Bharatiya Sanskruti Sanstha so as to facilitate the spread of spirituality. * *Taking note of its immediate tremendous growth, keeping the larger aspect of the smooth running of the organization in view, he renamed it as Sanatan Sanstha on 24 March 1999.* *Under Athavale, Sanatan Sanstha has created mass awareness among the Hindus of India, through the following activities organized in several parts of India:* 1. Discourses on various topics in spirituality 2. Weekly spiritual meetings (satsangs) 3. Child guidance classes (balsankarvarg) 4. Workshops on spiritual practice (sadhana) 5. Workshops on stress management 6. Rallies 7. Training in self-defense 8. Relief measures in calamities, training in first aid and fire fighting 9. Campaigns to create awareness of righteousness (dharma) (Individual spiritual practice) *Individual practice is said to include chanting the Lord's name, attending spiritual meetings (Satsang <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satsang>), service unto the absolute truth (satseva)**, sacrifice for the absolute truth and spiritual love without expectations. (Priti).* *In the organization, the members of different religious groups are encouraged to use the name of their individual God. **According to Sharon Clarke Sequeira the **1985 Miss India **contestant who represented India at the Miss World contest in London and a former model of prestigious campaigns like Lakme, Bombay Dyeing etc., chanting* *Hail Mary <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hail_Mary>* *for two years yielded her dramatic dividends.* *Today, few events or people upset her: anger seldom arises, and she has transcended her extended love affair with food that sent her weight soaring from 58 kg during her modeling days, to 95 kg. She is now down to 68 kg. Her threshold to bear grief and pain has risen. Even her pulse rate is an incredibly low 46.* Spiritual practice for the sake of society According to the Sanatan Sanstha organization, the spiritual practice for the sake of society includes propagating spirituality, undertaking the mission of "social upliftment", national security, rekindling righteousness (dharma <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharma>), protecting "seekers" and destroying "evildoers" (Kshatradharma). Creating awareness of righteousness (Dharama) "Hindu Awakening" conferences (Dharma Jagruti Sabha) According to promoters, the main objective of these conferences is to create a feeling of unity and fraternal solidarity amongst all Hindus, cutting across different sects and sub-sects and to create a new sense of awareness of the relevance, greatness and significance of Sanatan Dharma. In order to achieve this objective, the focus will be on specially designed programmes to raise the levels of public enlightenment relating to the Vedas, Upanishads, Brahma Sutras, Bhagawad Gita and other Hindu scriptures. *As of April 2009, 117 such conferences had been conducted by HJS in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, GOA, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, KERALA and Andhra Pradesh.* *Thousands of Hindus were said to have participated in these "Hindu Awakening" conferences with commitment, conviction, gusto and enthusiasm.* *One of the men who from the media who attended the Hindu Dharmajagruti Sabha at Barshi wrote: "HJS has been organizing 'Hindu Dharmajagruti Sabhas' in various places in the State for creating awareness among Hindus about the importance of 'Dharma-shikshan' and 'Dharmacharan', for uniting Hindus and re-establishing the supremacy of Hindu Dharma. Today’s meeting, which was a unification of 'kshatra-teja' and 'Brahma-teja', was a memorable experience for people from Barshi".* Spiritual television channel (*Sree Sankara*) *From 15 December 2008, the* *Dharmasatsang* *and* *Dharmashikshanvarga* *(educating people in society regarding Dharma) presented by the Sanatan Sanstha and the HJS started being telecast 5 days a week on the spiritual television channel* *Sree Sankara**. This channel was inaugurated by Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham on 21st December 2008. The Governor of Karnataka, Rameshwar Thakur* *was the chief guest at the function. During this function Saraswati blessed the mission of Sanatan and felicitated Pruthviraj Hazare, **the group editor of Sanatan Prabhat **periodicals. Awards.* *Shanishwar Devasthan, Solashi, Satara District, Maharashtra**, h**as honored Athavale with a* *Shanaishwar Krutadnyata Dharma Award* *on 24 May 2009. It was presented by Taponidhi Nandgiri Maharaj. As stated by Maharaj the award was presented to Athavale for giving people a treasure-trove of spiritual knowledge presenting a scientific viewpoint on various religious acts performed by Hindus and has taken thousands of seekers to the pinnacle of spiritual progress dubious – discuss.* *Sanatan's seeker, Chandrahas Changdev Gavand from Vasheni Uran* *District, was presented the* *21st Century Role-Model Award 2009** by Samaj Vikas Academy **in Colombo**, at the hands of the Vice-President of the Academy, Shri Tilak on 28 May 2009.* *Controversies** and **Allegations * *In 2008, six members of Sanatan Sanstha were arrested for planting bombs outside of an auditorium in Thane, Vashi. * * In 2011, two of the accused were found guilty and sentenced to ten years** incarceration.* *Even though Ramesh Gadkari and Vikram Bhave were acquitted of the terror charges under the stringent UAPA, **still the Maharashtra government has sought to ban the organization, and has pressed the case for a ban to the central government as well. * *A central government investigation of the group was ongoing. **However, after **investigating the 2009 Goa blast case for two years**; on 31 December 2013, **the Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court acquitted all six members of Sanatan Sanstha. * Convictions *On 30 August 2011, Ramesh Gadkari and Vikram Bhave were found guilty in session’s court of the Thane blasts and received the maximum sentence of ten years rigorous imprisonment**. **Judgment of trail court is further challenged in the Bombay (Mumbai) High Court and on 2 May 2013 court ordered to release the accused on bail**.* Ericksonian Hypnosis *Public interest litigations have been filed in the Bombay High Court seeking ban on Sanatan Sanstha stating that the organization uses a technique called **Ericksonian hypnosis** (**a technique whereby individuals as well as masses in the society can be hypnotized**), to lure people into joining it and carry out acts of violence.* *Well **Law to take its Own Course?* Sam Furtado
