Rishi Taavi Kassila Replies

“Rishi Taavi Kassila" has responded to serious allegations made about  his sexual misconduct on the internet (mostly in Finnish)  and repeated on our blog Amma Amritanandamayi Taavi Kassila Sex Scandal Cover-up, but Kassila is not admitting anything.

Rishi Tavi Kassila's comment comes at the end of our blog post  Amma Monk Threatens Woman He Infected With Herpes.

 Although the poster's name is listed on blogger.com as 'Unknown' we believe that Taavi Kassila is the source because the writer:

1. states that his name is "Rishi" and "Taavi Kassila" 
2.  uses the Amma form of address "Dear One!"
3. expresses a concern about Amma's public reputation
4. repeats several spurious distancing claims found in the Ammma Finland, Amma Amritapuri, Kerala, India emergency public statement about Taavi Kassila
5. Taavi Kassila needs to respond this critics
6. Taavi Kassila also contacted the author of "The Story of Love's Apostle (Tarina rakkauden apostolista)" about the same time that “Rishi Kassila” wrote on our Amma Amritanandamayi Taavi Kassila Sex Scandal Cover-up

  Amma Amritanandamayi Taavi Kassila Sex Scandal Cover-up readers would like a full explanation from Taavi Kassila in response to the very public accusations against him. If Taavi Kassila really wants to protect Amma's reputation then he should take full responsibility for his actions, confess and make amends to his victims. Taavi Kassila could also explain why he preaches celibacy and uses his Amma role to trap naive women.

We do not accept that Taavi Kassila is a nobody in the Amma Amritanandamayi organization. Taavi Kassila is an instructor, organizer, promoter, honorary chairman and PR manager in the Amma organization. If this has changed then Taavi Kassila and the Amma group should make a clear statement about when this happened and why they quietly deleted all evidence of Taavi Kassila from their Amma site. 

We request the supposed humanitarian Amma to show if she does protect her "children" against Taavi Kassila and similar predators. If Amma is not concerned then this blog will focus on her behavior and problems in the heart of her Amritpuri ashram.

The “Rishi Taavi Kassila” inadequate comment is reprinted here:

29 March 2012

Dear One! I have been made aware of the blog that has been started at http://amma-taavi-kassila-sex-cover-up.blogspot.in/  

I am deeply pained that the name of Amma, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, and her ashram, the Mata Amritanandamayi Math, have been dragged into this situation, which they are not at all responsible.

I would like to make certain things clear:

1. It should be clearly understood that I am not a monk at Amma’s ashram, initiated or otherwise. Out of an interest in trying to lead a spiritual life, I have chosen to live there just like thousands of other people around the world.

2. It is true that Amma has given me the name “Rishi”, but this is only because I asked her for a “spiritual name”. Amma has given such names to thousands upon thousands of people throughout the world. All you have to do is ask. The names are given as a reminder of a goal to be lived up to by the named, not as an indicator of some spiritual achievement.

It is true that I have spoken about the benefits of celibacy in the media, but at the same time I said that a relationship was possible for me, since I have never taken any vow of celibacy, formal or otherwise.

If I have hurt anyone, I apologize. It is unfair to blame Amma or her ashram, which is doing so much for the poor and suffering throughout the world, for my personal life. To do so is like blaming the doctor for the patient’s disease.

If someone is of the opinion that I have done something wrong, please, blame me, not Amma. I take full responsibility for my action, but not for actions I did not do. Kindly remove the blog or modify it so that Amma’s name is not mentioned at all.

Sincerely,
Taavi Kassila