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I was in Blue
Aquarius at the time of the split, and most all of
us were quite loyal to Bhole Ji, who was loyal to
Satpal and Mata Ji. It was a very traumatic time,
as you can imagine.
At that time we were all staying at Camp Joan
Meier (Meyer?), a large, rather nicely maintained,
camp for physically handicapped children. Those
children were not there; it was no longer being
used for that purpose, or maybe we were there only
for the off-season, I can't recall. (I was not a
honcho.) It had nice great number of cementblock
'cabins', a rehearsal hall, dining hall and
kitchen, other apartments for staff and so on. It
was near or north of Malibu, and was on Pacific
Coast Highway directly across from the ocean. It
was actually idyllic, just beautiful: the wooded
hills were behind us, the sparkling ocean in front
of us. It was a popular spot for surfers, too. Some
of us would go down to the beach at night and
meditate. Some may have been doing other things, I
seem to recall.
I remember the 'night of the guns.' Although I
never saw the guns myself, there was a very
disturbing night at the split-up time when the
whole compound was 'under siege' and Bhole Ji was
in, or felt to be in, considerable danger. The DLM
heavies were so unpredictable and bizarre, anything
could have happened.
Eventually, we set up in Thousand Oaks, CA, and
took a number of apartments in an attractive
apartment complex. We were pursued there by the DLM
heavies, the names of whom I've forgotten, who
would come around and try to intimidate, cajole,
threaten and entreat us to reconsider our
allegience. I distinctly remember Jagdeo also
coming there to talk to us, apparently to try to
gather us back to the DLM view. We would have none
of it. I'm somewhat certain he conducted there no
knowledge sessions, children's or otherwise, but he
did hold 'satsang'. I do remember what he looked
like. Full grey head of hair, handsome lined face,
distinguished, glasses I think, nice suit, no
saffron robes.
Many of the musicians in the band were
mavericks, notoriously anti-authoritarian, and
didn't have any patience with the DLM bullshit. A
fair number were jazz musicians, or trying to be.
We were a thorn in DLM's side: we knew it, they
knew it. Economics played a big part of it, I'm
sure, because we were Bhole Ji's personal band, and
it was gigantic: full brass, woodwind, rhythm and
string sections, four or five singers, electricians
and audio people, arrangers and copyists, roadies,
cooks, a few wives and kids, other hangers-on. And
the funding was staggering, I'm sure.
We had some amazing music-making sessions, I
must say: Sort of Lawrence Welk on acid, some of
it, with some very heartfelt and sensitive
song-writing, and plenty kick-ass grooves. We were
all over the musical map. There actually was a lot
of raw and refined talent expressing itself
there.
Our efforts were as much directed toward
becoming a viable entertainment-world success as it
was in 'serving Guru Maharaj Ji', the one
necessarily helping the other. We even had contacts
with Quincy Jones, and others, who came to the Camp
to audition us, or check us out. We were recording
regularly in Hollywood.
We were fortunate to have had in the band
several independent and vocal thinkers, who could
emotionally position themselves, and sometimes
clearly articulate, exactly why the DLM trip was in
trouble, and that we were damn lucky to be under
Bhole Ji's wing. But basically, the DLMers, the
bossy honcho types, the 'suits' were anathema to
jazzers and 'creative types'. This is not
surprising, 'tis ever been thus.
Remember, this was very early on, ca. 1974, and
we had, before all this, been living together in
Hollywood at a fabulously seedy old hotel on
Hollywood Boulevard, just down the street from (the
legendary) Grauman's Chinese Theatre. (That's a
whole story in itself.)
But before that, we had been in Houston for the
great lift-off, and before that, on 'Soul Rush', a
multi-city mainly East Coast concert tour. And
before that, the band had formed in London, giving
concerts at Hammersmith Odeon, also at the big GM
event at Alexander Hall (or Palace?). We had bonded
together both with Bhole Ji and amongst ourselves.
I have great friendships to this day from those
times, and some of whom I've lost track,
regrettably. Many of the people in the band were
European, lots of Brits, smattering of Germans,
Swiss, others. Around this time there were
immigration concerns which also threatened the
fabric of the band. How, or by whom, were they
going be be sponsored?
After a while the band couldn't maintain itself,
and we ended up getting regular jobs in and around
LA, formed various premie houses in Santa Monica
and Venice (CA), and a 'Residence' in Pacific
Palisades. Some people drifted away, and life went
on. We who remained were informed, felt and
understood that Prempal was bonkers for 'falling
from the path' and that Satpal was the real keeper
of the flame. There had been rumors of unseemly
behavior on the part of Prempal (aka Sant Ji)
before then, just worrisome scandalized whispers.
It may have been excruciating for some to negotiate
that switch to Satpal Ji, but for those who were
instinctively rebellious to begin with, I don't
think it was that bad. To be honest with you, Bhole
Ji just seemed a lot hipper and more much fun than
anything else happening at the time. It was a
wonderful balance in many ways: creative musical
work along with meditation and 'spiritual
progress'.
A significant figure at the time was Mahatma
Satyanand, one of Shri Hans' mahatmas, the oldest
or longest serving mahatma. He was a powerful
figure, and communicated much and well, even though
his accent was very strong. He pretty much made it
clear in both practical and cosmic ways that Satpal
was Lord, not Prempal. I wish I could dredge up the
fine points of his argument, but it was as much his
force of personality and personal integrity that
compelled belief as it was any logical
reasoning.
This much was clear from this particular
Mahatma: I never felt or construed anything he said
that would lead me to become a blind robot, an
automaton of blissful disregard. This was one
cranky, genuine and thoughtful guy. He made it very
clear that we SHOULD think, carefully, with
discernment and for oneself, to test all premises,
about anything, from the existence of God to the
price of watermelons. In no small way, he helped
me, and I believe many others, keep their heads and
wits when the DLM would have preferred us to shut
down, turn off the lights and become yes men.
Mahatma Satyanand was the farthest thing from a
yes man. He would reason and talk and argue just
about anything, and when it was REALLY important,
he would vociferously present his view, but give
you space to make up your own mind. But his
reasoning would usually be convincing. Also, he
would never cling to a position if it could be
shown that he was in error. He invited debate and
sometimes got as good as he gave. He never shied
away from hard physical work, either. He was up
early and out the door digging stumps out of the
mud, or clearing land, rototilling a garden, you
name it. Didn't seem to have much fondness for Arti
and all that routine. Plenty of action. In fact,
one of his main concerns was 'the meaning of
action' or the 'secret of action': That was where
you could learn what your or anyone's character was
all about. It is a lesson I still treasure. If you
can imagine a short, burly, scrappy and
cantankerous, hard-working, trouble-making
saffron-robed son-of-a-bitch with a heart of gold
and a wicked sense of humor, that was Mahatma
Ji.
But I ramble.
To answer your questions:
The new faction eventually moved, i.e., a small
remaining core group, to NYC around 1976 with
Satpal Ji. He never actually lived there for any
permanent length of time, but he definitely wanted
a separate presence and fresh beginning in NYC.
(India was his main focus, events have shown). That
NYC ashram became the basis of another smallish
community of faithful, and things proceeded under
another name, Spiritual Life Society. There was an
Indian version, Manav Dharma, which continues even
now. I think it is Manav Dharm Seva Samiti.
There was another relocation to semi-rural New
Jersey. That ashram disbanded around 1990 or so,
I'm not sure the exact year: I was there until
around 1988. But there has always been a few
die-hards who've kept the flame, and in any case, a
strong Indian community thread which is still
active. I would have no way of calculating the
numbers of Satpal Ji's followers, although I
believe it is more than just a few. Again, the
sizable Indian communities in New Jersey, Canada,
California and perhaps elsewhere are his strong
suit at this time.
As to Bhole Ji's ongoing activities I know
little, although I do see him every so often. He
does come to the U.S. at least once, maybe twice a
year. With all that has happened over the years,
some very difficult and wacky years, I still
respect him and like him very much as a person. He
is unconventional and sometimes hard to 'read', but
it would be unnatural not to feel warmly toward
someone with whom you've shared some interesting
and challenging times. I still touch his feet in
the traditional greeting of respect.
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