My Memories of Bhurijan & 'His Art of Teaching'
BY: GURUKULA ALUMNI
May 08, USA (SUN) — I am grateful to the devotees who have been revealing the true history and nature of Bhurijan. How many devotees know who he really is and what he has done over the years? It seems that everyone thinks that he is this nice sincere soul that has never even hurt a fly. But there are many of us who know better. Over the years we have remained quiet, but that was in the days when it was seen as a sin to reveal the sinner. But now it seems that we have a voice and a voice that is not too meek to be heard. Heard, but not listened to.
Bhurijan was a teacher in the Gita-nagari Gurukula from 1976 and this is where he displayed his emotionally abusive teaching techniques on us kids. This is also where he gathered his 'experience' as a teacher that allegedly qualified him to write "The Art of Teaching."
I am not sure how many of the readers have been in the situation where you are in a boarding school and you are only nine years old? Nine is when you are not quite a little kid and not quite an adolescent. It is a time for rapid emotional and social growth and development and so it is a very impressionable period in a child's life. If you can remember what is was like when you were a pre-adolescent then you can relate to what we were feeling and how scared we were when things got out of control. Not with us, that is, with the teachers.
One day we were all called to the room by Bhurijan who was so angry that spittle was flying from his mouth with rage, because on the shower room floor was some stool. Bhurijan, an emotionally manipulative abuser was ranting and raving as he threatened to "discipline" the culprit with his "stick" and that none of us could leave until the culprit was revealed.
As you could imagine we were all freaked out as we watched him rant and rave about beating one of us, for what seemed like an eternity. The kid who did it was probably too scared to own up to it, especially since Bhurijan was so angry. No one wants to be beaten by someone who was so out of control. Especially not a terrified nine year old!
Then after what seemed like an eternity, a NINE years old boy (the son of Amekhala and Manihara) spoke up. He took the blame and he didn't even do it!!! I have no idea where you got the courage to take the blame but somehow you did, thanks for ending that horrific episode for us all!
The idea that a teacher (Bhurijan) could employ methods of punishing the children (beating them with a stick) for telling the truth is immoral and discouraged honesty and morality. This was not a constructive approach to developing a child's values. It was a rather OXYMORONIC idea.
Now as the years go by, I have seen Bhurijan grow in fame and position as we have faded into the background. I have even attended some of his lectures. There is no way that anyone can tell me that he has changed. For one, he still tries very hard to speak like he is reading a kid a bedtime story when he gives his classes. But we know what lies below that façade and it is definitely not humility and peace!
For too long we are being fooled by these people who masquerade as devotees but are really wolves in the dress of a sheep. To have these so-called devotees removed from positions is no big thing and they would not really make much of a difference to our movement. To be free of their shackles will only free us. How can we be a dignified society with such cheaters as our leaders? It is impossible. Our leaders must be devotees of high character and integrity and not criminals and users, like most of them are. It is time we shook them loose from their stranglehold on our movement!
I sincerely pray that all the devotees who are reading our letters please do something. Speak up for us. I for one will be so happy and relieved if so-called devotees like Bhurijan, Braja Bihari, Gauri and this Tamohara are removed and named for the traitors and rascals that they really are.
Maybe if Pragosh das, the Editor of Dandavats, looked into the real history of Bhurijan he would not be so quick to publish Bhurijan's "sweet 'n simple" essays on his website. We have all noticed how Bhurijan is writing more frequently in an attempt to say: 'all is well. I am still so very advanced.' He is thinking that he can distance himself from the Gauri fiasco, but he will never be able to.
