Ramtha's School of Enlightenment Responds to South African Tragedy

YELM, Washington, January 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Upon hearing the news that the fugitives had died in a shoot-out with police yesterday, JZ Knight, founder of Ramtha's School of Enlightenment (RSE) expressed a mixture of relief and sadness, "I am joined by the staff and students of RSE in sending our prayers to the families, friends and community members of Sutherland who have been so tragically affected by the recent shootings on the du Plessis property. We send our prayers for a swift healing for officer du Toit. To the family of Jacob Boleme, we know that no words can console such a loss, still our hearts go out to you. This unfortunate atrocity affects us all and many lives have been impacted by these horrific events."

Philippe Meniere and Agnes Jardel had thought the world was ending for decades. According to a report in the Independent Online, the couple had been involved in survival academy and Nostradamus prophecies as far back as the late 1980s. "They believed that the world was coming to an end and decided to flee. The sane academy members had a good laugh when they returned red-faced two weeks later," Pete Swanepoel told the Independent yesterday. Swanepoel is a weapons instructor at the academy based in Germiston, Johannesburg. The couple attended a survival combat and tactics academy 23 years ago, long before they ever attended RSE. Those tactics have never been part of the RSE curriculum. http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/fugitives-trained-in-combat-1.1014379

Philippe Meniere and Agnes Jardel attended several RSE courses between 1999 and 2004. RSE has had no contact with them since they last attended a seminar in Johannesburg in January 2004. "As reported by the du Plessis family to the media, the change in their behavior happened only within the last year or two, so their recent actions are unrelated to RSE or its teachings," Knight said.

Knight had never met the couple. "This School does not condone violence in any form. The fundamental precepts taught at the School emphasize the sacredness of human life. The choices made by the couple do not reflect an understanding of the school's philosophy," she said.

"RSE students are not survivalists," Knight said. "We are sovereignists. We have always been taught to be prepared for anything, to be able to provide and care for ourselves and our families. A sovereign person is able to support their life without gambling on banks, the stock market, or paper investments. I am very proud of this culture of RSE and that our students have heard this message from Ramtha for over 25 years. I am very proud our students have done whatever they can, no matter how meager, to became sovereign. Ramtha has been making predictions of Earth changes for decades and has given people hope by providing tangible actions for students to prepare themselves and their loved ones. When calamities strike, as we are witnessing with ever increasing frequency and intensity, RSE's culture is one of preparedness and sovereignty."

"Five years ago this week, two former US presidents, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, urged the public to be prepared.** RSE encourages students to become self-reliant and to contribute to their community so that they can be a resource rather than a liability," Knight said. "Media reports indicate that the Menieres withdrew from their community, took advantage of the generosity of the du Plessis family, then allegedly stole eggs, vegetables and goat milk. Manipulation, theft of another's property, and criminal violence are the antithesis of RSE's teachings."

After 1992, journalists could be held libel for calling the school a cult following a Superior Court ruling that provided a legal precedent, ruling that RSE is not a cult.

"It is clear, however, that the teachings of Ramtha are essentially religious teachings, although not those of mainline Christian thoughts. They are much more similar, if not borrowed directly from the eastern religions and particularly the Hindu religion."

- Bruce W. Cohoe, Judge. Superior Court of the State of Washington for Pierce County. December 4, 1992. Pierce County Cause Number 88-3-03873-1

**http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/deptofhomelandsecurity/24499

Ramtha's School of Enlightenment (RSE) asks South African media and public to examine the facts and not report hearsay or rumor

THE FACTS:

    
    - Philippe Meniere and Agnes Jardel haven't been students of
      the school since 2004
    - The school does not condone violence
    - The school is not a cult

FACT 1: Philippe Meniere and Agnes Jardel have had no contact with RSE for over seven years

    
    - The School has had no contact with them since they last attended a 
      seminar in Johannesburg in January 2004. As reported by the du
      Plessis family to the media, the change in their behavior happened only
      within the last year, so their recent actions are unrelated to RSE or 
      its teachings. JZ Knight has never met the couple.

FACT 2: RSE does not condone violence in any way

    
    - The couple attended a survival combat and tactics academy 23 years 
ago, long before they ever attended Ramtha's School of Enlightenment. Those 
tactics have never been part of the RSE curriculum. Media reports indicate 
that Meniere and Jardel withdrew from their community, took advantage of 
the generosity of the Du Plessis family, and then allegedly stole eggs, 
vegetables and goat milk. Manipulation, theft of another's property, and 
criminal violence are the antithesis of RSE's teachings.

FACT 3: RSE is not a cult

    
    - After 1992, journalists could be held libel for calling the school a
      cult following a Superior Court ruling that provided a legal precedent, 
      ruling that RSE is not a cult:

"It is clear, however, that the teachings of Ramtha are essentially religious teachings, although not those of mainline Christian thoughts. They are much more similar, if not borrowed directly from the eastern religions and particularly the Hindu religion."

- Bruce W. Cohoe, Judge. Superior Court of the State of Washington for Pierce County. December 4, 1992. Pierce County Cause Number 88-3-03873-1

- Gordon Melton and other religious scholars have identified RSE as a re-emergence of ancient Gnosticism and one of a number of new religious movements:

"Having spent all my adult life observing spiritual organizations and metaphysical instructional centers, I saw in Ramtha's school a relatively new and unique offering, not only an alternative to older, more familiar forms of spirituality but also a decided challenge to New Age aspirations."

- J. Gordon Melton, PhD, Director of the Institute for the Study of American Religion University of California, Santa Barbara

    
    Other publications about RSE

    - Beliefs and Believers (Class 8), John Simmons. Governors State 
      University. 1998
    - The Encyclopedia of American Religions, 6th Edition, J. Gordon Melton. 
      Gale Group, November 1998.
    - American Religions, an Illustrated History, J. Gordon Melton.
      ABC-CLIO, Inc. 2000.
    - Assessing the Implications of Spiritual Self-Healing Paradigms, Joan 
      Hageman. Saybrook Graduate School and Research Center, December 2002.
    - Encyclopedia of Women and Religion in North America, vol 2, edited by 
      Gail M. Harley. Indiana University Press, April 2006.

Additional Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Philippe Meniere and Agnes Jardel are reported to have been survivalists, and to have believed that the end of the world was near. Would this fit with the teachings of RSE?

RSE encourages students to become self-reliant and to contribute to their community so that they can be a resource rather than a liability. Meniere and Jardel had attended a survival combat and tactics academy 23 years ago, long before they ever attended Ramtha's School of Enlightenment. Those tactics have never been part of the RSE curriculum. http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/fugitives-trained-in-combat-1.1014379

2. Does RSE believe that the world will end in 2012?

No. RSE is already making administrative plans for its school curriculum for 2013 and 2014. RSE students have been advised for many years - from Ramtha to former U.S. Presidents - to prepare for sudden, unexpected changes. Those changes might be associated with severe weather, terrorist's attacks, or even financial chaos. The emphasis is not on the end of the world, but rather on becoming self-reliant so that in any emergency you can be an asset to your family and community rather than a liability. http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/deptofhomelandsecurity/24499/

3. What is Ramtha's School of Enlightenment (RSE)?

JZ Knight established RSE in 1988 in Yelm, Washington. Over 100,000 people from around the world have attended classes since 1979. The School's approach is unique and innovative, combining many threads of contemporary scientific research to support demonstrations of the principle that God lives within each of us. RSE has been a powerful bridge between science and mysticism in its greatest output, the students themselves, and in the personal difference it has made in individual lives.

4. Who is Ramtha?

Ramtha is the master teacher at the school. He lived as a human being on Earth 35,000 years ago. He explains that in his lifetime, he addressed the questions about human existence and the meaning of life, and that through his own observation, reflection, and contemplation he became enlightened and conquered the physical world and death. His philosophy reflects the experience of his own life. His teachings emphasize that each individual is responsible for their own reality, that your attitudes affect your life, and that you can change your life by changing the way you think. The form in which Ramtha communicates his teachings is through the phenomenon called channeling. He uses the body of JZ Knight to channel himself and teach his philosophy in person.

5. Who is JZ Knight?

JZ Knight is the unique channel of Ramtha and author of the best-selling autobiography, "A State of Mind, My Story." Historians and religious experts who have studied her life's work call JZ Knight the Great American Channel and recognize her as one of the most charismatic and compelling spiritual leaders of the modern age. JZ Knight is the only channel through whom Ramtha has chosen to deliver his message. She and Ramtha have inspired audiences worldwide for the last three decades, bridging ancient wisdom and the power of consciousness together with the latest discoveries in science. JZ Knight has appeared on national American TV shows, including The Larry King Show five times and The Merv Griffin Show, to offer spiritual insight and inspiration to thousands of people from all over the world and all walks of life. Among her many other accomplishments, she been nominated twice for the coveted Templeton Prize and she has been a keynote speaker at the UN on teaching the methods to help people world wide. She has also provided nearly $2 million in college scholarship for local high school graduates. She is currently serving in her second year as a member of President Obama's Presidential Partners.

6. How many worldwide branches does RSE have?

RSE is only located in Yelm, Washington, USA. The staff will conduct seminars in nine other countries in 2011.

7. Is there a permanent school in South Africa or does RSE only host visiting events?

There is no permanent location in South Africa, rather the School hosts visiting events.

8. Has JZ Knight been tested?

Yes. In 1996, a team of researchers comprised of top neuroscientists, psychologists, sociologists, and religious experts conducted an eighteen-month research project on JZ Knight, Ramtha and the students of the school. They conducted physiological tests on JZ Knight before, during, and after channeling Ramtha. The readings taken from JZ Knight's autonomic nervous system responses were so dramatic that they categorically ruled out any possibility of conscious fakery, schizophrenia, or Multiple Personality Disorder. The conference proceedings, In Search of the Self: The Role of Consciousness in the Construction of Reality, are available on DVD.

"The results of the physiological tests showed that when Knight is channeling Ramtha, her muscle tension, pulse, and galvanic skin response increase while skin temperature and blood volume both decrease. Wickramasekera affirmed that Knight could not have voluntarily changed or faked all eight of these results."

- Summary of 1997 Scientific Research Papers, from the conference In Search of Self: The Role of Consciousness in the Construction of Reality.

"Something is definitely happening here that produces practical results, that produces measurable processes, and that seem to produce phenomena that are anomalous..."

- Dr. Stanley Krippner Ph.D., Saybrook Institute Graduate School

    
    Other peer-reviewed publications

    - The Ramtha Phenomena: Psychological, Phenomenological, and Geomagnetic 
      Data, Stanley Krippner, et. al. The Journal of the American Society for 
      Psychical Research, 92:1, January 1998.
    - The C&E(R) Breathing Technique: A Method for Accessing The Deep
      Subconscious Mind, Carroll Adam Cobbs. Breath, Sound and Trance: Society
      for the Anthropology of Consciousness - 2002 Spring Meeting, April 2002.
    - Assessing the Implications of Spiritual Self-Healing Paradigms, Joan 
      Hageman. Saybrook Graduate School and Research Center, December 2002.
    - Experimental Data Demonstrating Augmentation of Ambient Gravitational 
      and Geomagnetic Fields, Danielle Graham. CP813, Space Technologies and 
      Applications International Forum-STAIF 2006, edited by M. S. El-Genk, 
      American Institute of Physics, February 2006.
    - Sympathetic Reactivity During Meditation. Vol. 19 No. 2. Joan H.
      Hageman, Ph.D., Stanley Krippner, Ph.D., Ian Wickramasekera II, Psy.D.
      Subtle Energies & Energy Medicine, 2009.