Muz Murray (aka ‘Ramana Baba’)

Muz Murray & The Swami Muktananda Imbroglio

Introduction To Muz Murray / Ramana Baba:

Public Domain Pictures Of Muz Murray aka Ramana Baba
Public Domain Picture Of “Fuzzy Muzzy” Muz Murray aka Ramana Baba

Muz Murray (also known as “Ramana Baba”) is the webmaster and registrant for the mantra-yoga.com domain:

Domain Name:
MANTRA-YOGA.COM

Registrant:
Muz Murray
179 Montee Du Levant
Caveirac
Gard, 30820 FR
Tel. +33.466815947
Fax. +33.466815947

On Muz Murray’s mantra-yoga.com website, he described himself (in third person) as:

A “world renowned Mystic and Mantra Yoga Master”
An “awakened mystic and western spiritual master of mantric knowledge”
“One of Britain’s best-loved mystic masters”
A “world-travelling mystic master with an international reputation”
A “mantracharya”
A “maestro”

Although Muz Murray clearly has a bloated (some would argue “egotistical”) perception of his spiritual repertoire, self-image and status, he equivocally stated (again in third person):

“Although endowed with the saffron robe and spiritual name of ‘Ramana Baba’ in India, he sees himself neither as a ‘Swami’ nor a ‘New Age’ teacher, inclining rather to the notion of a ‘No Age’ - seeking the teachings suitable for any age of the world, through attunement to the eternal verities. Thus his ‘Way of Unlearning’ is a simple ‘Sharing of the Inner Quest’ warmly appreciated by those who seek trustworthy guidance without bondage to any form of cultism.” (Ref)

Muz Murray has a big problem with the title “swami” but does not have a problem with the titles of “world renowned Mystic and Mantra Yoga Master”, “awakened mystic and western spiritual master of mantric knowledge”, “one of Britain’s best-loved mystic masters”, “world-travelling mystic master with an international reputation”, “mantracharya” and “maestro”. Muz claimed (numerous times) that he is a spiritual teacher, conducts spiritual workshops and has “students”.

Muz Murray’s Claims About Muktananda And Sathya Sai Baba:

On the bogus SaiPetition.net website Muz Murray submitted the following comment:

Muz MURRAY, France signed the petition on October 11. 2007
“I never was a follower. But Swami Muktananda of Ganeshpuri, warned me over thirty years ago, never to get into a private darshan with Sai Baba, as he had just returned from Puttaparthi adjudicating in a court case regarding Sai Baba’s molestation of the son of two of Muktananda’s disciples. Also an Arab friend was penetrated by Sai Baba many years later.“

Robert Priddy wrote Muz Murray for more information regarding his claims about Muktananda and Sathya Sai Baba and Muz responded (in part):

saibaba-x.org.uk/11/muzmurray.html
“Greetings Robert, I wish I could give you more golden hope to get that scumbag behind bars where he belongs. But if my memory serves me right, Muktananda indicated that the matter had been settled out of court. And many other such situations have gone the same way, I understand. No doubt Hard Rock Cafe pays for all.

With the local police in his pay, the judges, army and President in his pocket, who can tackle him and live? It’s like trying to get Bush to the Hague for Terrorism and War Crimes.

I am presently compiling an Online Ashrams Guide (following my ‘Seeking the Master--Ashrams of India and Nepal’ guide, which is now out of print) and offer you a few extracts from my piece on Sai Baba. I did some investigation last time I was in India. And here are a few other things you possibly may not know...“

After I emailed Muz Murray and expressed surprise that a self-professed “awakened mystic” and “spiritual master” (who allegedly purified his mind, heart and tongue with sacred mantras for 40 years) used a bitter, hateful and childish word like “scumbag”, he promptly emailed Robert Priddy and had him remove the section stating “to get that scumbag behind bars where he belongs”. Fortunately, Muz Murray and Robert Priddy’s subterfuge, deceit and attempt in damage control backfired because Google already indexed the relevant passage in their search results:

Self Professed World Renowned Mystic and Mantra Yoga Master Hateful Use Of The Word scumbag
Self Professed “World Renowned Mystic and Mantra Yoga Master” Hatefully Used The Word “Scumbag”

Muz Murray told me that he was “somewhat annoyed” that Robert Priddy published his private correspondence “given in confidence as a personal request from him”. Robert Priddy published his own article about Muz Murray on his wordpress blog on the April 15th 2008, deleted the post as per Murray’s request and then reposted it on the April 17th 2008 with Murray’s permission. Although Muz Murray cannot back up his claims whatsoever, Robert Priddy ranted and raved that Muz’s story is “evidence” of “sexual abuse”.

Muz Murray’s Changing Stories About The Alleged Court Case:

The fact of the matter is that Muz Murray cannot get his stories straight. First, Muz Murray alleged on the bogus Sai Petition that Muktananda “adjudicated in a court case regarding Sai Baba’s molestation of the son of two of Muktananda’s disciples”. Then Muz Murray changed his story when Robert Priddy asked for clarification and said that (if his memory served his right) “the matter had been settled out of court”.

Further complicating the matter, I asked Muz Murray in an email why Muktananda would personally visit Sathya Sai Baba, have Sathya Sai Baba’s darshan, embrace Sathya Sai Baba, offer Sathya Sai Baba a jasmine mala (with at least two known pictures of the encounter) if Muktananda truly “adjudicated in a court case” against him and believed him to be a molester? Muz Murray responded (in part):

“Muktananda intervened in the situation in an amicable fashion and settled the matter out of court. I know nothing about any ‘compensation.’ I wasn’t told the resulting circumstances. Of course I am unable to back it up. You have to take my word or leave it.”

That’s right, Muz Murray really doesn’t know anything about the alleged “court case”, “out of court case” or whatever he dubiously claimed happened. Muz Murray has no proof, evidence or corroborating witnesses to support his claims about Muktananda (which were allegedly related to him through a translator in third-world India—in the early 70’s—where they often do not speak correct or proper English). So, Mr. Muz Murray, which version is correct? Was there a court case or wasn’t there a court case? Why would Muktananda travel about 800 kilometers from Ganeshpuri to Whitefield to intervene in an allegation of sexual abuse only to embrace Sai Baba and offer him a flower garland? Something just doesn’t add up with Muz Murray’s ever-changing and ever-self-justifying stories.

What we do know, however, is that Muz Murray thinks that Sai Baba is a “scumbag” who needs to be put “behind bars where he belongs” (a disturbing statement revealing Muz’s bias, hatred and predisposition to rumor mongering). What we also know is that there is photographic proof that Muktananda visited Sathya Sai Baba, embraced him and offered him a jasmine mala:

Picture Of Swami Muktananda Hugging Sri Sathya Sai Baba After Offering Him A Jasmine Flower Mala

What Muz Murray Really Thinks About Muktananda:

And to top it all off, this is what Muz Murray had to say about Swami Muktananda in his email correspondence with me:

“I know Muktananda was no saint. I personally knew two girls who had relations with him. But that does not negate his advice to me.”

Muz Murray claimed that Muktananda was “no saint”, claimed he knew two women who had (sexual) relations with Muktananda and also claimed that Muktananda must have told him the truth about Sai Baba. If Muz Murray thinks that Muktananda is such a shady character, why does he attribute truth and significance to Muktananda’s alleged claims about Sai Baba?

Swami Shradhanand, Bhagwan Nityananda And Sathya Sai Baba:

Dr. Gadhia related the story of Swami Shradhanand in his book Sai Smaran. As a matter of fact, Dr. Gadhia was the person who took Shradhanand to see Sathya Sai Baba in 1961 and was therefore intimately familiar with his story first-hand. Shradhanand told Dr. Gadhia that Bhagwan Nityananda of Ganeshpuri recommended he visit Prashanti Nilayam to see Sathya Sai Baba. For those who do not know, Bhagwan Nityananda was the highly revered Guru of Swami Muktananda.

According to Shradhanand, Sathya Sai Baba called him in for a private interview and before he could say a word, Sai Baba unbuttoned the top of his robe, bared his chest and said “Look here!” Swami Shradhanand claimed he saw a clear vision of Bhagwan Nityananda residing within Sai Baba’s chest. Shradhanand immediately fell to Sai Baba’s feet and became a Sai devotee.

Therefore, Bhagwan Nityananda held favorable views of Sathya Sai Baba and even sent one of his disciples to be with him. Bhagwan Nityananda entered mahasamadhi later on that same year (August 1961).

Swami Shradhanand With Sathya Sai Baba In 1961:

Sri Shradhananda Direct Disciple Of Bhagwan Nitayananda With Sathya Sai Baba - Picture 1
Swami Shradhanand (Direct Disciple Of Bhagwan Nitayananda) With Sathya Sai Baba - Circa 1961

Sri Shradhananda Direct Disciple Of Bhagwan Nitayananda With Sathya Sai Baba - Picture 2
Swami Shradhanand (Direct Disciple Of Bhagwan Nitayananda) With Sathya Sai Baba - Circa 1961

Baba Muktananda Hugged Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Too:

Swami Muktananda visited various Indian Gurus and embraced them. Oddly enough, many critics of Baba Muktananda and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi have attempted to argue that the Gurus public embrace was actually sexual in nature. It is indeed peculiar how critics and ex-devotees have a nasty habit of sexualizing everything pertaining to their former Guru(s). This deviant and perverse sexualization of one’s former Guru is a highly prevalent tactic employed by former followers of Sathya Sai Baba (even with absurd claims that Sai Baba is engaging in questionable sexual acts in full view of thousands of devotees while being recorded on video).

Baba Muktananda Hugging Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
Baba Muktananda Embracing / Hugging Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Muz Murray (aka Ramana Baba) - Shabby Research Into The Sai Controversy:

Muz Murray also related (in his email correspondence with me) several complete untruths and blatant exaggerations pertaining to the Sai Controversy:

Muz Murray alleged “David Bailey has on file dozens of young men willing to testify in court.”
Muz Murray alluded to “evidence on a BBC documentary The Secret Swami”.
Muz Murray alleged “Hundreds of young men all over the planet have told the same story...When hundreds tell exactly the same story, one has to think again.”
Muz Murray alleged “The FBI in America and the equivalent in Sweden and Israel have warned people about this matter.”
Muz Murray alleged that David Bailey was “Baba’s Musical Director”.
Muz Murray alleged that David and Faye Bailey “were staunch devotees living in the ashram for 12 years”.
Muz Murray alleged that David and Faye Bailey “both left and set up a website for Sai Baba victims, with testimonies from dozens of young men telling the same story”.

One would not expect such hatred, bitterness, rumor-mongering and shabby research from a four-decade-long “Spiritual Master” who preaches love, unity, truth and mantric purification. Muz Murray’s flowery and pompous claims to Spiritual Greatness are as ridiculous as his contradictory claims about Muktananda and his lamentable research into the Sai Controversy.

Guruphiliac Writes About Ramana Baba (aka Muz Murray):

Although I am personally no fan of Jody Radzik (the Guruphiliac webmaster), Ex-Devotees (particularly Sanjay Dadlani and Timothy Conway) are his fans and love to cite and reference him. The Guruphiliac blog posted the following article:

“Right before Ammachi’s Imagegate broke out, we received an email from one Kevinanda Yogi heralding the arrival of his own guru gossip site: Chi-Ting Guru Gossip, which he uses to comment on visiting gurus in Tiruvannamalai, South India, home of Arunachala Mountain and Ramana Maharshi, and ostensibly the world captial of Advaita Vedanta.

Here is what Kevinanda has to say about a guru named Muz Murray:
‘Weird aging English hippy who looks like a stick end insect in orange, obviously took too much LSD in the 60’s and never recovered as he is still peddling his delusions 40 years later. Cuts a rather lonesome figure in high season, when he is totally ignored and often trampled underneath foot by the guru hunting crowds. After high season, he is sometimes seen with the gullible making strange insect noises which he calls mantras.’
Kevinanda sounds like our kind of guy, and he comes recommended by the Grand Poobah of modern gurubusting, Sarlo of Sarlo's Guru Rating Service, so please give Kevinanda's site a spin when you get a chance.” (Reference)

Amusingly, Barry Pittard (an Anti-Sai Activist) claimed that everyone in India suffers from corruption. Using Barry Pittard’s logic (which Robert Priddy fully advocates for), Muz Murray and Muktananda are products of India’s ubiquitous corruption and they cannot be fully trusted or believed. Muz Murray is also a believer in tantric mantras, gurus, gods & goddesses, mysticism, etc., making him part of the lunatic fringe seen and associated with religious movements (according to Robert Priddy). Nice friends you got there, Muz.

Spiritual Workshops By Ramana Baba (aka Muz Murray):

It is indeed astonishing to what extents Muz Murray has gone to solicit and promote himself as a “World Renown Mystic And Mantra Yoga Teacher” on the internet. Almost all of the search engine results for “Muz Murray” and “Ramana Baba” contain his wholly self-promoting claims to Spiritual Greatness (often duplicated verbatim from his website). Numerous search results resolve to MP3 or music download websites that show his picture (which he obviously submitted to them) along with sound files to his chants.

Muz Murray conducts spiritual workshops using Mantra and Sound Theory, Bija Mantras, Voicework, the Mantric Alphabet, Pranayama, Meditation, Yoganidra, Deep Relaxation, Agnihotra (Homa), Tantra-Mantra Chanting, Massage, Yoga Philosopy and Satsang. Muz’s workshops are predominantly conducted in New Age and Yoga centers or houses.