The Splendour of the Bright Shining (A Corrective to Corruption)

Please Note: This post from the Open Door category, “INO Schism” contains the views of Shri Gurudev Mahendranath regarding a schism within the INO which culminated in the appointment of a new leadership in 1989. This category is included in our archives as testament to the specific issues and time line of events. These posts are critical of the views and behavior of several people and do not reflect the uplifting concepts and ideals of the INO as a whole. Read on only if you are seeking accurate and reliable information regarding the specific issues involved. A document clearly explaining these issues is under development and will use these letters to validate its accuracy and time line.

071889
Guru Purnima Tuesday 18th July 89
The International Order of Naths was founded on the desire to share my own spiritual development and magick powers with other sincere people in the West. Having written the MSS containing the guidelines, I thought that the process would develop without impediment. In this I have been wrong, and inflated egos, past brainwashing and human frailty have distorted many things. I must deal with these things as individual items. I also request the editors of the “Open Door” and all other Pagan mags to assist and make them known.

International Nath Order was previously known as the Western Nath Order, but as it is not exclusively for Western people, the name was changed to International Order of Naths (I O N). It is to help people to attain enlightenment, magick powers, and to help build a new amoral social order.

Many Naths and Devis complained that they could not remember and some suggested an invocation to make it more interesting and more colourful. This was put into writing, typed and Xerox copies made. In this typed issue, it was called The Prestigious Initiation into the International Order of Naths. This is the only initiation I have given and there is no other. The only addition has been the invocation which Naths have requested.

I have also stressed that those who have taken the initiation without the invocation need not take it again, but many have done so. This Nath Initiation is the identical one which was given to Lalita Mataji and the same one which was given to Mike [Lokanath]. He was given this initiation and leadership of Great Britain and Europe. No other form of initiation has been given by me.

I have never initiated anyone into the Adi-Nath sannyas sampradaya either in India or the West. In fact, I cannot do so. To be initiated into the Adi-Nath Sampradaya one has to first renounce world, family and everything. One must not be an householder or do gainful employment or own property. This is a way of life which has existed for thousands of years. I cannot, nor would I want to break this Hindu tradition.