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Letters to the Zoning Administrator Concerning SRF's Request to Create a Private Mausoleum on Mt. Washington Note: Opinions expressed in letters are those of individuals, and not of any organization Dear
Mr. Brown, I strongly oppose the moving of Paramhansa Yogananda’s body to Mt. Washington. I, along with tens of thousands of other non-SRF devotees, revere Yogananda as a great saint. I have visited his crypt at Forest Lawn about five times over the last 15 years. I’ve usually gone in the company of at least 50 others but several times with over 200 people. I intend to visit his crypt at a minimum of at least every few years, particularly if it remains in an easily accessible location. SRF, which has no clear legal claim to Yogananda’s body, cannot possibly accommodate the thousands of current devotees who will want to visit the proposed shrine containing his body. Yogananda’s following will only grow in future and so, logically, access will become even more restricted by SRF. Even SRF’s hired consultant essentially said during the recent hearings, “access could be limited by asking visitors to make appointments.” Undoubtedly, SRF will limit access to Yogananda’s shrine exactly the way they currently restrict access to other important Yogananda related sites. All non-SRF devotees of Yogananda’s will be left out as quickly as SRF is able to exclude them. They already do this with other sites. In a country based on religious freedom, this is an appalling situation. If you allow SRF to move Yogananda’s body it would constitute an infringement of the First Amendment rights all non-SRF devotees. SRF has repeatedly shown indifference to the needs and aspirations of others. Even a child can see that the Mount Washington area will be devastated by the project SRF is proposing. It will ruin the neighborhood for the good folks who have lived there for decades and who have to keep it a cohesive neighborhood. The local residents clearly do not have the financial resources to fight an organization of vast wealth like SRF on “level ground”. As you
know, SRF has already spent ungodly amounts of money in lobbying for
this project.
Frankly, SRF cares only about their organization’s plans
and will spend millions until they win.
They will likely use the same unscrupulous means to prevail
they have already used in many other situations.
I have dealt with SRF for close over 20 years and know of
this “hidden violence” to others firsthand.
If you already suspect them of any “foul play” in this
situation, your suspicions are likely correct. SRF
has many other appropriate properties where they can erect their
version of “Vatican City” with much less impact than at Mount
Washington.
They do have other alternatives.
Remember they will only grow in future. I honestly wish you good luck in dealing with this difficult situation. Please do stand up to them if you feel it is right to do so. If governments knuckle under to “big money” groups like SRF, what happens to the well-being and freedoms of the little guys? Sincerely, P.V. Note: Opinions expressed in letters are those of individuals, and not of any organization |
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OWNS YOGANANDA'S BODY? |