Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness
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The Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness (or MSIA, sometimes pronounced "messiah") is a 501(c)(3) non-profit religious corporation, incorporated in California on June 25, 1971. They currently claim approximately 5,000 members and current or past members include Arianna Huffington, Sally Kirkland, Leigh Taylor-Young, Jaime King, Jsu Garcia and self-help author Peter McWilliams.
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[edit] History and teachings
A modern-day spiritual movement which teaches Soul Transcendence through an advanced meditation technique known as Spiritual Exercises. Spiritual Exercises (or SEs) are an active meditation technique based on chanting specific sacred sanskrit words internally, in a similar fashion to the Transcendental Meditation (TM) techniques. MSIA also offers its students, a 12 year study support subscription called Soul Awareness Discourses. Discourses are a program designed to educate students on the teachings of MSIA and assist readers stay focussed on their spiritual practices. Both the tones and discourses are held sacred to each student.
MSIA, founded in California in 1968 by John-Roger (formerly Roger Delano Hinkins), was incorporated into an ecumenical church in 1971. Often called a 'church without walls' by its members, MSIA is not a religion per se, but rather MSIA provides a set of tools and techniques to teach Soul Transcendence, to people of all religions. Soul Transcendence, as defined by MSIA, is the process of becoming aware of yourself as a Soul and as one with God. The MSIA teachings draw primarily on the ministry of Jesus Christ and include elements of esoteric Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, and the Sat Mant tradition.
Two thousand years ago, Jesus the Christ said, "The kingdom of Heaven lies within, He spoke the truth and gave us one of the greatest keys to enlightenment. If you would find the kingdom of Heaven, look within. If you would find the peace of God, look within. These things are not separate from you. - John-Roger (From: The Way Out Book)
The church has about 5000 active members, mainly in the United States, as well as in 32 countries around the world. Arianna Huffington, Sally Kirkland, Leigh Taylor-Young, Jaime King and Jsu Garcia have all been members.
[edit] Related Organizations founded by John Roger
Peace Theological Seminary & College of Philosophy (PST)
University of Santa Monica (USM)
Institute for Individual and World Peace (IIWP)
Insight Seminars
Heartfelt Foundation
Mandeville Press
The University of Santa Monica founded in 1978 (formerly Koh-E-Nor University) is approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education under California Education Code 94310 to grant master's and doctoral degrees.
USM teaches soul-centered education based the works of John-Roger, who is Founder and Chancellor of the school. It also teaches standard psychology and counseling practices along with various spiritually based principles.
USM is recommended by professional members of the personal development movement in the US; David White (Poet and Lecturer), Gay & Kathlyn Hendricks (Relationship Experts), John Bradshaw (Author), Neale Donald Walsch (Author) and Jean Houston (Author and Consultant to the UN). One of the most notable graduates of USM is the author and television personality, Iyala Vanzant.
[edit] Cult controversy
Whether or not MSIA should be labeled a cult is a matter of dispute. Both the movement and its founder have been through certain scandals (documented in People Magazine and the Los Angeles Times among other publications) alleging numerous financial improprieties as well as sexual misconduct by Hinkins. MSIA gained widespread attention during the senatorial campaign of Michael Huffington, whose wife, Arianna Huffington, denied that she was a member of MSIA. [1]
MSIA has, like many other new religious movements centred around the 'teachings' of one individual, frequently been accused of being a Cult of Personality. MSIA sued California marijuana activist and self-help author Peter McWilliams over his book "Life 102: What To Do When Your Guru Sues You", written about his experiences. MSIA won the rights to the book (highly critical of the movement and John-Roger) and immediately had it withdrawn from publication.
Technically, McWilliams was not sued by his guru as the title suggests, but by his former church in which he had been a prominent minister prior to his estrangement. At the end of his life, Peter McWilliams made peace with his old spiritual teacher and his former church, MSIA. Read LIFE 102.com [1]
[edit] References
^ Frank Rich. "Journal; Manchurian Candidate II", The New York Times, 1994-10-13.
[edit] External links
The Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness [2]
John Roger [3]
Peace Theological Seminary [4]
University of Santa Monica [5]
Cult Awareness & Information Center
Council for Higher Education Accreditation
