Adi Da

Adi Da, born Franklin Albert Jones, Nov. 3 1939, is the founder and leader of Adidam. Other aka’s include Ruchira Avatar Adi Da Samraj, Da Free John, Bubba, and Beloved. The organisation actually keeps a list of his many names.

“Adi Da was born and raised in Queens, New York. He attended Columbia College, where he received a degree in philosophy, and Stanford University, where he completed his M.A. in English literature with a thesis on Gertrude Stein. In 1965, Adi Da (then still Franklin Jones) became a disciple of Swami Rudrananda, also known as Rudi, and, later, in 1968, a disciple of the Indian teacher Swami Muktananda, who gave Jones a letter which acknowledged his experiences and gave him the right to teach. Adi Da was also involved with Scientology for approximately one year, ending in mid-1969. Adi Da permanently broke with Muktananda after a meeting in India in 1973. He founded his own group in April of 1972, operating out of a bookstore in Los Angeles, California.”
From: Wikipedia ¹

Adi Da’s teachings have at times been called controversial.

Maston: That’s the public image of Jones, the disciplined guru. There’s another side of Master Da his church wants to hide. Many of his teachings were taken off the market, particularly after Jonestown. Listen to this recording, no longer available.

Jones [from "The Gorilla Sermon" (Dawn Horse Records)]: The guru gives you his garbage, and he expects you to throw it away. But you meditate on it. [Jones laughs.] If you turn to me, I will destroy you.

Maston: Some of his followers now say he does just what he promised. They claim their lives were nearly destroyed by Jones through psychological, physical, and sexual abuse.
From: transcript The Today Show ², 1985

Although Adi Da has written many books, 5 titles are considered central and most representative of his teachings and need to be studied at least once a day. These titles are:

• * Aham Da Asmi (Beloved, I am Da)
• Ruchira Avatara Gita (The Way of the Divine Heart-Master)
• Da Love-Ananda Gita (The Free Gift of the Divine Love-Bliss)
• Hridaya Rosary (Four Thorns of Heart-Instruction)
• Eleutherios (The Only Truth That Sets the Heart Free)

While these texts are not the primary focus of religious worship, devotees are expected to study from them at least once a day in order to combat the natural tendency towards egoism.
Because meditation on the image of the guru is a major focus in the Way of the Heart, several photo albums of Ruchira Avatar Adi Da Samraj are also available for devotees to use in meditative practices. It is believed that meditating on these images is one of the most direct ways to overcome the egoic self.
From: The Religious Movements Homepage Project ³

Footnotes:

1. 1 : Wikipedia
2. 2 : The Today Show, 1985
3. 3 : The Religious Movements Homepage Project