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
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]- 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
[edit | edit source]- 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
[edit | edit source]- Adidam sanctuaries and retreat centers
- Private devotional spaces
- Study groups
Sacred texts
[edit | edit source]- The Knee of Listening
- The Dawn Horse Testament
- The Aletheon
- Adi Da's talks and essays
Holidays and observances
[edit | edit source]- No universal public calendar outside the movement
- Commemorations connected with Adi Da's life and teaching
- Community retreat observances
Branches and related traditions
[edit | edit source]- 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
[edit | edit source]References
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