PUBLICATIONS

The Whole Body Gospel: Yogic Gnosticism in the Work of Adi Da Samraj

Abstract:

This article explores Gnostic spirituality in a new religious movement by examining what I call “yogic Gnosticism” in the work of my father, spiritual teacher and philosopher, Adi Da Samraj (1939–2008). Although Adi Da’s teachings are most often associated with Indian traditions of thought and practice, an often-overlooked element of his work is his reading of Christian scripture. Adi Da read the New Testament as a moral, devotional, and mystical text – one that simultaneously portrays historical events and esoteric, or hidden, archetypes of enlightenment. To define Adi Da’s work as “Gnostic” is to examine gnosis as a category of religious imagination that is, by definition, transgressive and experiential – drawing on the traditional symbols and myths of the Christian religion but privileging an individualism that is often at odds with an orthodox reading. To categorize his view as “yogic” is to see it in interplay with definitions of the subtle body and of enlightenment that closely parallel Hindu and Buddhist yogic traditions. The result is an innovative interpretation of the gospel of Jesus that simultaneously deconstructs orthodox readings of Christian scripture while affirming a deeply meaningful message of ancient religious truth.

https://brill.com/view/journals/gnos/9/1/article-p35_2.xml

The Avatar and its "Incarnation" in a Postmodern World 

Abstract:

In January of 2010, I crowded excitedly into a local movie theater to see James Cameron’s groundbreaking film, Avatar. I had heard about Avatar for months, and the experience itself did not disappoint—a vivid extravaganza of pulsepounding adventure, breathtaking beauty, and special effects that reached out of the screen and grabbed me in my seat. Like many people seeing James Cameron’s film, I knew that the idea of an “avatar” came from the tradition of Hinduism. The blue Na’vi people in the film resembled the blue skin of Krishna as depicted in East Indian art, and the notion of a savior incarnating to redeem the native people echoed Indic epic myths. However, watching Avatar had a special personal significance for me as well...

https://www.academia.edu/43591191/The_Avatar_and_Its_Incarnation_in_a_Postmodern_World