Adidam

Adidam
Family	New religious movement / Hindu-influenced spirituality
Origin region	United States
Founding period	1972 CE
Estimated adherents	Small; estimates vary and membership is not centrally reported in public sources.

Adidam is a small modern religious movement founded by Franklin Jones, later known as Adi Da Samraj, combining guru devotion, Hindu-influenced language, meditation, and claims about divine realization.

Overview

Adidam began in California in the early 1970s and developed through several organizational names before becoming known as Adidam. Its devotees recognize Adi Da as a uniquely realized spiritual master, while outside descriptions commonly classify the movement as a new religious movement grounded partly in Hindu and Vedantic themes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Key beliefs

• Adi Da is regarded by devotees as a supreme or avataric spiritual teacher
• Human suffering is understood as rooted in separation, ego, or contraction from divine reality
• Devotional relationship to the guru is central to the path
• The movement draws on Hindu, Vedantic, yogic, and esoteric vocabulary
• Critics and former members have raised concerns about authority and community practices

Practices

• Devotional meditation
• Study of Adi Da's writings
• Satsang and community practice
• Ritual offerings and sacred art
• Life-discipline practices within Adidam communities

Places of worship

• Adidam sanctuaries and retreat centers
• Private devotional spaces
• Study groups

Sacred texts

• The Knee of Listening
• The Dawn Horse Testament
• The Aletheon
• Adi Da's talks and essays

Holidays and observances

• No universal public calendar outside the movement
• Commemorations connected with Adi Da's life and teaching
• Community retreat observances

Branches and related traditions

• New Religious Movements - Adidam is commonly studied as a modern religious movement.
• Hinduism - Adidam uses many Hindu-influenced concepts while remaining a distinct modern movement.
• New Age spirituality - Adidam overlaps with Western alternative spirituality and guru-centered movements.

See also

• Religion
• Theology
• Philosophy of religion
• New Religious Movements

References

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