Adi Da

Adi Da Samraj
Adi Da Samraj in 2008
Born
Franklin Albert Jones

(1939-11-03)November 3, 1939
New York, New York, U.S.
DiedNovember 27, 2008(2008-11-27) (aged 69)[1][2]
Naitauba, Lau Islands, Fiji
Other namesBubba Free John, Da Free John, Da Love-Ananda, Da Avabhasa, Adi Da Love-Ananda Samraj
Alma materColumbia University
Stanford University
Occupation(s)Spiritual teacher, writer, and artist
Known forFounder of Adidam
ChildrenFour, including Shawnee Free Jones

Adi Da Samraj (born Franklin Albert Jones; November 3, 1939 – November 27, 2008)[1] was an American-born spiritual teacher, writer and artist.[3] He was the founder of a new religious movement known as Adidam.

Adi Da became known in the spiritual counterculture of the 1970s for his books and public talks and for the activities of his religious community. He authored more than 75 books, including those published posthumously, with key works including an autobiography, The Knee Of Listening, spiritual works such as The Aletheon and The Dawn Horse Testament, and social philosophy such as Not-Two Is Peace.[2]

Adi Da's teaching is closely related to the Indian tradition of nondualism.[4]: 197  He taught that the 'ego'—the presumption of a separate self—is an illusion, and that all efforts to "attain" enlightenment or unity with the divine from that point-of-view are necessarily futile.[5] Reality or Truth, he said, is "always already the case":[4]: 198  it cannot be found through any form of seeking, it can only be "realized" through transcendence of the illusions of separate self in the devotional relationship to the already-realized being.[6] Distinguishing his teaching from other religious traditions, Adi Da declared that he was a uniquely historic avatar and that the practice of devotional recognition-response to him, in conjunction with most fundamental self-understanding, was the sole means of awakening to seventh stage spiritual enlightenment for others.[7]: 99 

Adi Da founded a publishing house, the Dawn Horse Press, to print his books.[8] He was praised by authorities in spirituality, philosophy, sociology, literature, and art,[9][10][11][12] but was also criticized for what were perceived as his isolation[13][14] and controversial behavior.[15][16] In 1985, former followers made allegations of misconduct:[17][18] two lawsuits were filed, to which Adidam responded with threats of counter-litigation.[19] The principal lawsuit was dismissed and the other was settled out of court.

In his later years, Adi Da focused on creating works of art intended to enable viewers to enter into a "space" beyond limited "points of view". He was invited to the 2007 Venice Biennale to participate through a collateral exhibition, and was later invited to exhibit his work in Florence, Italy, in the 15th century Cenacolo di Ognissanti and the Bargello museum.[20][21] His work was also shown in New York, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, Miami, and London.

  1. ^ a b "Spiritual leader passes on". www.fijitimes.com. November 28, 2008. Archived from the original on February 26, 2009. Retrieved February 20, 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Obituaries". Columbia College Today. June 2009. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  3. ^ "An Introduction to Avatar Adi Da". www.adidam.org. Retrieved February 20, 2010.
  4. ^ a b Forsthoefel, Thomas A.; Humes, Cynthia Ann (2005). Gurus in America. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press. ISBN 0-7914-6573-X.
  5. ^ Chryssides, George D. (2006). The A to Z of New Religious Movements. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press. pp. 47–48, 200. ISBN 0-8108-5588-7.
  6. ^ Daniels, Burton (November 2002). The Integration of Psyche and Spirit: Volume I: The Structural Model. Writer's Showcase Press. p. 226. ISBN 0-595-24181-6.
  7. ^ Gallagher, Eugene V.; Ashcraft, W. Michael (2006). Introduction to New and Alternative Religions in America [Five Volumes]. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-275-98712-4.
  8. ^ "The "Dawn Horse"". www.dawnhorsepress.com. Retrieved February 20, 2010.
  9. ^ Eugene V. Gallagher, "New Religious Movements and Scripture", in James R. Lewis and Inga B. Tollefsen, eds., The Oxford Handbook of New Religious Movements, Volume II (Oxford University Press, 2016), p. 377.
  10. ^ Jones, Franklin (1973). The Knee Of Listening, Second Edition. Dawn Horse Press. ASIN B000JDNOWO.
  11. ^ Kripal, Jeffery J. (2004). The Knee Of Listening; foreword to the 2004 edition. Dawn Horse Press. ISBN 1-57097-167-6.
  12. ^ Mei-Ling Israel, Primal Views: Root-Shape and Root-Color, The World As Light, published online in Respiro.org.
  13. ^ Wilber, Ken (October 11, 1996). "The Case of Adi Da". wilber.shambhala.com. Archived from the original on April 9, 2010. Retrieved February 24, 2010.
  14. ^ Gallagher, Eugene V.; Ashcraft, W. Michael (2006). Introduction to New and Alternative Religions in America, Vol IV. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. p. 93. ISBN 0-275-98712-4.
  15. ^ Feuerstein, Georg (1996). "Holy Madness: The Dangerous and Disillusioning Example of Da Free John". What is Enlightenment?. Spring/Summer 1996 (9). ISSN 1080-3432.
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference Lowe 1996 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ^ Duke, Lynne (June 12, 2005). "Deep Throat's Daughter, The Kindred Free Spirit". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 18, 2011. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  18. ^ "Sex Slave Sues Guru: Pacific Isle Orgies Charged". San Francisco Chronicle. April 4, 1985.
  19. ^ Collin, Molly (April 17, 1985). "Da Free John Sect Sues 6 Ex-Members On Extortion Charge". Mill Valley Record.
  20. ^ "Venice Biennale Collateral Exhibition: Adi Da Samraj". www.huma3.com. July 11, 2007. Retrieved February 23, 2010.
  21. ^ Storr, Robert (2007). La Biennale di Venezia: 52. Esposizione internazionale d'arte, Volume 2. Rizzoli. pp. 312, 337. ISBN 978-0-8478-3001-5.